Vehicles travel on Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận expressway, passing through Tiền Giang province. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Đạt

The Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) will be the key to enhancing and optimising the management, operation and use of highways. It will improve traffic capacity, help reduce congestion and accidents, minimise environmental pollution and raise driver awareness.

Lâm Văn Hoàng, Director of the Việt Nam Expressway Authority, spoke to Vietnam News Agency about how ITS will be rolled out.

Can you explain the benefits of applying Intelligent Transportation System to the transportation sector?

Intelligent Transportation System applies scientific and technological advancements, including sensors, electronics, informatics and telecommunications, to optimally control, operate and manage transportation infrastructure. This system aims to improve traffic capacity, reduce congestion and accidents, minimise fuel consumption and limit environmental pollution, making transportation more efficient.

Essentially, ITS leverages advances in IT and and telecommunications to connect people, road systems and vehicles into an integrated network. This network optimises the management, operation and flow of traffic on highways, with the primary goal of automating traffic management.

ITS also manages traffic information, electronic toll collections, traffic control, automatic incident detection and timely incident responses on highways. It helps prevent accidents, raises road user awareness and contributes to building a safe, civilised, modern and developed society.

However, to date, only nine out of 35 expressway routes have been equipped with ITS?

According to its plan, Việt Nam's expressway network will include 41 routes with a total length of over 9,000km. Currently, the country has 35 expressway sections with a combined length of 2,001km in operation. By 2025, this is expected to increase to 3,000km and by 2030, to 5,000km.

ITS is an integral part of all highway projects and is as important as other construction elements.

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has recommended that Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính approves the use of information technology in transport management and operation, focusing on the road sector. This project aims to ensure that by 2025, 100 per cent of all expressways will be equipped with intelligent traffic management systems. It also aims to establish integrated traffic management centres in smart urban areas in major cities and localities with high demand.

Currently, MoT has directed units to urgently review and invest in completing ITS and the traffic management centers for the North-South Expressway projects in the eastern region.

How will ITS differ from the systems previously in operation?

Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thắng recently directed the Vietnam Expressway Corporation to send working delegations to Europe and regional countries to learn about intelligent transportation systems.

Units are required to invest in modern equipment, apply advanced global technologies, standardise technical systems and enhance the use of AI technology in the ITS to automatically collect, analyse and process data for the management and operation of expressways.

Traffic management centres will be constructed by combining adjacent short expressway sections, ensuring that every 70-100km of road is managed by one centre. This approach, similar to practices in other countries worldwide and in the region, aims to enhance management efficiency.

These centres will use a common software platform to ensure consistency. There will be a common data connection system to facilitate information exchange and interaction between routes.

Do you think the recent opening of thousands of kilometres of expressways represents a crucial moment for Việt Nam in order to set up a synchronised ITS system ?

ITS investment will revolutionise expressway management, operations and maintenance. MoT has mandated modern equipment and advanced technologies, ensuring effective connectivity between traffic management centres and the national ITS centre.

The deployment plan aligns with Việt Nam and international ITS standards, for efficient expressway operation and enhanced sector management.

Project management boards swiftly invest in construction to complete ITS systems and traffic centers, ensuring seamless operations. Adherence to legal procedures ensures transparency, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Việt Nam's deployment and investment in expressways signals a mastery of intelligent transportation system technology, marking a crucial step towards a establishing a comprehensive transportation system. — VNS