"By 2020 there would be 50 billion mobile devices around the world connected to the internet and IoT used in daily life" said Chu Tien Dung. — File Photo

HCM CITY (VNS) — The rate of urbanisation in Viet Nam has increased from 16 per cent annually in the 1990s to 35.5 per cent now, and is projected to rise to 45 per cent in 2020, putting more and more pressure on urban infrastructure, a seminar on using technology to ease traffic congestion heard in HCM City yesterday.

"The answer to resolving the traffic problem is Internet of Things (IoT), a convergence platform for smart city traffic," Chu Tien Dung, chairman of the HCM City Computer Association, said in his opening speech at the 20th Viet Nam Information and Communications Technology Outlook.

He said by 2020 there would be 50 billion mobile devices around the world connected to the internet and IoT used in daily life.

A smart city traffic system should have a sensor system, connected infrastructure, and human resources, he said.

"With IoT, we can connect, supervise, search, manage and control everything. That should be perfect to make traffic better using IoT."

Dung introduced a model using IoT for smart traffic management with three components.

The first is information collection through cameras, tracking and assessing vehicle density and inputting meteorological data from around the city.

The information is then processed at the traffic control centre.

Finally, all the information about traffic congestion, flooding, the number of vehicles will be propagated through traffic boards, mobile devices, and radio to help drivers choose the best routes.

"A smart city where information and communication technology is applied to manage all aspect of life should be created to help drive the economy, address growth issues such as traffic and pollution, and provide citizen services in a timely, cost-effective way," Ho Huu Thang, technical director of the enterprise and public sector segment, Cisco Viet Nam, said.

He said in Viet Nam and many other countries around the world, separate management systems are built for each industry.

"They require huge investment, but they cannot connect with each other and cause great waste.

"Using [Cisco's] Smart City Connected Network, cities can address specific issues such as parking, lighting, public safety, pollution/environment … and roll out services based on their priorities."

Traffic congestion has worsened in major cities in Viet Nam, especially HCM City and Ha Noi. According to the National Traffic Safety Committee, in the first six months of this year, there were 1,783 traffic accidents in HCM City, in which 344 people were killed and 1,549 others were injured.

HCM City now has 877 traffic lights but only 4 per cent are linked to the Traffic Management Centre.

There are 383 public cameras around the city, which are managed by different agencies. — VNS