Applying an intelligent transportation system (ITS) into the highway network in north Vietnam was discussed during a seminar in Hanoi on August 20.
Vietnam plans to build 2,500 kilometres of highways by 2020 and 6,400 kilometres by 2030, 700 kilometres of which have already been put into use. However, underdeveloped public transportation and infrastructure as well as limited awareness of vehicle users are making it harder for traffic management, said Head of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam’s Highway Management Department Nguyen Quoc Tung.
A representative from the Ministry of Transport said a plan is in the pipeline to adopt the ITS model in several highways, including National Highway 1, which aims to lay out a common standard for nationwide highway management.
Representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said there should be a common ITS in Vietnam given its numerous highways across the country.
JICA will help Vietnam build an integrated ITS control centre for the north, they said.
In its ITS feasibility study, JICA will also thoroughly evaluate the design and quality of existing equipment such as cameras, data transmitting and toll collection systems, and cable and cable pipeline networks.
The preliminary ITS plan will cover traffic operations and management mechanisms, road patrol teams, emergency response, data provision and toll collection stations.
The seminar was co-hosted by the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam’s Highway Management Department and JICA.-VNA