The proposed sign indicating journey time at the northbound Canal Road Flyover.

A view of the proposed journey indication signs to be installed on the Island Eastern Corridor.

Journey Time Indication System
Hong Kong will soon see the pilot implementation of a journey time indication system (JTIS), the first of its kind in the territory. The project aims to provide drivers with an indication of the actual traffic conditions, and the estimated journey time required, on the three different cross-harbour routes, from Hong Kong to Kowloon. With this information, drivers will be able to better control their traveling times whilst also making better use of road capacities to ease traffic congestion. The system is expected to reduce overall journey time on the three routes by 5%, which will translate into an annual saving of HK$11 million.

The project commenced in June last year, when EMSTF was approached by the Transport Department to implement the system. Our Project Division worked closely with the Transport Department and carried out feasibility studies, planning and design of the system, identifying suitable technologies, which include both GPS and image processing, to meet the requirements. The contract of well over HK$10 million was awarded in August 2002. Installation, consisting of seven sets of journey time indicators, is currently taking place at Gloucester Road in Wanchai, the exit of the Aberdeen Tunnel in Happy Valley and the Island Eastern Corridor in North Point. If the system proves to be satisfactory, it will be extended to Kowloon, other tunnels and approach roads.

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Vehicle information displayed on the AVRS colour video terminals.

Automatic Vehicle Recognition System
EMSTF issued an open tender at the beginning of this year, on behalf of the Customs and Excise Department, for an Automatic Vehicle Recognition System (AVRS) for the three boundary control points at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok. The contract at HK$15 million was subsequently awarded in April. This will be the first large scale license plate number recognition system installed in Hong Kong to handle the 42 vehicle carriageways at the three boundary points.

Based on Artificial Intelligence and Fuzzy Logic technologies, the system will provide real time capture and recognition of license plate numbers on both moving and stationary vehicles, as well as a range of unique features including high recognition accuracy (over 98%), real time colour video displays, resistance to single-point faults, data integrity and security and real time system monitoring. Designed for its resilience and fault tolerance as well as its high degree of integrity and security, the system has also been specially tuned to cope with any unclear images caused by dirt and mud, rust and peeling paint as well as faded lettering and bad lighting.

With the completion of installation expected in early 2003, the recognition of license plate numbers will become automated, greatly reducing the processing times currently needed for customs clearance.

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