Intelligent Transport Systems

Across the island, over a 160km network of expressways and road tunnels, hundreds of gadgets, sensors and cameras gather data on traffic flow, travelling times and road demand to give you the information that helps you make decisions on how you get to places.

Collectively called the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), this web of data collection technologies forms a dynamic, real-time picture of the ebb and flow of a population moving through their daily lives. ITS uses the sensors, traffic and control systems, and data analytics, to maximise road network efficiency capacity, monitor and manage traffic flow, and make our roads safer.

The vision, key strategies and focal areas of ITS is set out in the Smart Mobility 2030 (PDF, 11.6MB) master plan, a roadmap jointly developed by LTA and the Intelligent Transportation Society. The goal of this plan is to meet transport challenges in a systematic and coordinated manner for smarter urban mobility in the future.

Integrated, Real-Time Traffic Information

iTransport

At the heart of all the ITS is the iTransport. All of ITS data is connected to iTransport which is an integrated and unified platform, that which makes sense of the data for traffic monitoring and disseminates the information for incident management in the ITS Operations Control Centre. An intelligent and large scale back-end transportation system, it fully integrates existing ITS while allowing for expansion to include new ones. iTransport also possesses the capability to fuse the collected raw traffic data from the ground sensors and transform them into relevant traffic information to be used for traffic analysis and planning, and to develop a better informed transport policies.

ITS Operations Control Centre (OCC)

Working 24/7 to help maintain smooth traffic, the ITS OCC monitors traffic and manages incidents on our expressways and road tunnels via the i-Transport and various ITS. The OCC deploys ground recovery crew and traffic marshals to assist motorists in distress, and works closely with agencies such as the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force to recover incidents as quickly as possible.

LTA then shares real-time traffic information with the public to help motorists make informed travel decisions. These include:

Traffic messages and estimated travel time on expressways displayed on Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System (EMAS) electronic signboards located along the expressways and major arterial roads;
Traffic information on traffic incidents, road closures, road works, indicative traffic speeds and ERP rates, which motorists can find at
Webcam images at strategic locations along expressways;
Parking Guidance System on carpark lot availability for major shopping malls in the Marina Centre, Orchard and HarbourFront areas.

In addition, LTA shares real-time traffic information with the industry at LTA Data Mall.

Find out more about the various systems below.

Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS)

Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS)

Smooth, safe and swift accident response is made possible through the Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System (EMAS), an intelligent incident management tool that manages traffic along our expressways. EMAS detects accidents, vehicle breakdown and incidents promptly through a network of cameras operated by LTA’s Operations Centre, ensuring fast responses to restore normal traffic flow. It also provides real-time traffic and travel time information on electronic signboards located just before and along the expressways.

To help motorists determine the best routes to take, electronic signboards along the expressways and adjacent major roads display messages, graphics and colour-coded information on the traffic situation ahead. Traffic information is also disseminated through OneMotoring, MyTransport.SG mobile app and @LTATrafficNews on Twitter/X, and radio stations.

EMAS also serves 10 major arterial road corridors (PDF, 110kB), allowing for better information dissemination and improved traffic flow on the road network island-wide.

Response to Traffic Incidents

When a traffic incident is detected, the EMAS vehicle recovery tow truck and LTA Traffic Marshal work together to clear an accident and bring traffic flow back to normal as quickly as possible.

All stalled vehicles are towed to the nearest designated carpark free of charge. Since 2006, it is an offence if a vehicle owner refuses to allow his vehicle to be towed away by the recovery crew, even if the owner is waiting for his own tow truck service. This minimises congestion and inconvenience to other motorists.

LTA Traffic Marshals also carry out on-scene management duties like traffic control and evidence preservation for accidents involving minor injuries to improve the accident clearance time, especially for minor accidents. The Traffic Police handles all accidents involving injuries and fatalities, and enforces traffic offences. Find out more by reading the EMAS Vehicle Recovery Service Brochure (PDF, 730kB).

Read more in LTA’s CONNECT article on Singapore's Road EMAS-gency Experts.

Green Link Determining System (GLIDE)

Green Link Determining System (GLIDE)

The Green Link Determining (GLIDE) system controls all traffic signals in Singapore by adjusting the green time as traffic flow changes. GLIDE also links adjacent traffic signals to allow vehicles to travel from one junction to another with minimal stops. Loop detectors are used to detect the presence of vehicular traffic and makes traffic signal adjustments to:

Allocate green time for motorists and pedestrians based on demand
Provide "green wave" link between adjacent junctions to minimise the number of stops by vehicles
Allow traffic signal faults to be rectified quickly

How GLIDE Works

The GLIDE system detects the presence of vehicles and pedestrians at the traffic light junctions and uses logic and algorithms to analyse real-time traffic data.

Wire sensors laid beneath the road surface at junctions sense the presence of vehicles. This activates a local controller that adjusts the traffic light timing so that more green time is given to the direction with a higher traffic volume.

The GLIDE system also detects pedestrians when they press the push button at the junction. A push button system at traffic signals allows the “green man” to be activated only when pushed, so that motorists do not need to wait at a red light unnecessarily and can enjoy more green time when there are no pedestrians crossing the road.

The GLIDE system links the traffic signals at adjacent junctions along the major corridors, by coordinating the start of their green times. This allows motorists to catch the "green wave" and travel from one junction to another without having to stop at the red lights as often. Read more in LTA’s CONNECT article on GLIDE: The Green Wave You Want to Ride.

Green Man+

Green Man+

Crossing the road can be a stressful affair for those who are less mobile. Green Man+ allocates a longer green man time for elderly and Persons with Disabilities (PWD). Elderly pedestrians and PWD can expect up to 13 seconds more green man time when they make use of signalised pedestrian crossings fitted with Green Man+.

They can simply tap their CEPAS-compliant senior citizen or PWD concession cards on the reader mounted above the standard push-button on the traffic light pole. This will extend the green man time by between 3 and 13 seconds, depending on the width of the crossings. Over 1,000 pedestrian crossings have been equipped with Green Man+ function across Singapore with expansion to another 1500 pedestrian crossings by end of 2027 (PDF, 83kB).

Elderly pedestrians aged 60 years and above, who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents may apply for the senior citizen concession cards from any SimplyGo Ticket Office, SimplyGo Ticketing Service Centres or through SimplyGo app while PWD can apply for PWD concession cards via SG Enable website or call SG Enable hotline at 1800 8585 885.

Junction Electronic Eyes

Junction Electronic Eyes

The Junction Electronic Eyes (J-Eyes) system is a network of around 400 traffic monitoring cameras placed at strategic traffic junctions.

The system provides footage to LTA’s Operations Centre, allowing us to monitor traffic conditions in real time and verify incidents as they happen. This enables LTA to implement effective action plans for traffic and incident management. The cameras are typically mounted on traffic light poles, street lampposts or special poles and possess pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities.

Parking Guidance System

Parking Guidance System

Take the guesswork out of finding parking when travelling to Marina Centre (PDF, 729kB), Orchard (PDF, 1.2MB) and HarbourFront (PDF, 1.6MB).

The Parking Guidance System (PGS) delivers updates on available carparks through 28 roadside electronic information panels, which are easily viewed even while driving. Real-time information reduces the amount of circulating traffic in search of available parking facilities in the central business district and along major shopping belts. Motorists can make more informed parking decisions and optimise the use of existing parking facilities.

The PGS is also available via various digital platforms such as OneMotoring.

Signalised Pedestrian Crossing

Signalised Pedestrian Crossing

Signalised pedestrian crossings are a common sight along our roads, but did you know that the implementation of each crossing needs to consider many factors such as safety, timing and the demands of different road users?

LTA receives over 20 requests for new signalised pedestrian crossings each month. Each is reviewed to balance the efficiency of other road users and the convenience and safety for pedestrians. Factors such as pedestrian volume, pedestrian mix, road profile, traffic speeds, proximity to nearby crossings, visibility, proximity to nearby junctions/accesses and its constraints are carefully considered before installing a new signalised pedestrian crossing.

Catering to Different Users

Signalised pedestrian crossings are about sharing road space between motorists, commuters and pedestrians, allocating each group of users a fair, efficient and demand-based amount of time to carry on with their journey.

For pedestrians, a push-button on the traffic light pole registers an intent to cross the road. To balance the efficient operation of the road network and the provision of a safe crossing environment, there is some delay in the activation of the green man so that traffic flow is not unduly interrupted. The timing of crossings is controlled by a computerised traffic signal system known as the Green Link Determining (GLIDE) system, which optimises the efficiency of our road network by adjusting green time at junctions according to the vehicle and pedestrians demand.

Pedestrian Accessibility and Safety

‘Green man time’ or the length of time given for pedestrians to cross is determined by factors such as the length of the pedestrian crossing, the volume and composition of pedestrians. This time comprises two components, a steady green man and a flashing green man.

Steady green man time is a fixed and pre-determined time period that allows all pedestrians waiting at the kerbside to step off and commence crossing. The flashing green man is the duration required by a typical pedestrian to finish crossing from one side of the road to the other. Thus, pedestrians who arrive at the crossing location after the green man has started to flash would probably not have sufficient time to cross the road if they attempted to do so. This is why it is not safe to start crossing the road when the green man flashes.

To improve accessibility for the visually handicapped, some traffic lights beep to indicate that it is safe to start crossing. The volume for audio signals is adjusted based on the noise level of the environment.

For busy junctions and schools, Integrated Pedestrian Countdown Timers are used to indicate the amount of time left in the pedestrian crossing phase.

TrafficScan

TrafficScan

TrafficScan leverages the large number of taxis that ply the roads across Singapore to collect travel information on roads.

TrafficScan is a transport system that uses Global Positioning System (GPS) data from taxis to calculate the average speed of traffic on roads. This real-time travel information is then provided to motorists so they can plan their route for a smoother journey.