The Challenge: Managing Traffic at a Bustling University Campus
With over 50,000 students, faculty, and visitors navigating the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus daily, traffic management has become increasingly complex. The Wesbrook Mall corridor, a major pedestrian and vehicle route, experiences high congestion, leading to safety concerns, increased emissions, and significant delays. To address these challenges, UBC partnered with NoTraffic, and UBC’s research and sustainability teams to pilot an adaptive traffic management system designed to enhance campus safety, improve traffic flow, and reduce environmental impact.
“I’ve really noticed an improvement at the Agronomy signal as a cyclist.
It’s awesome!”
Goals: Enhancing Mobility and Safety
The UBC project focused on three key objectives:
- Reduce Pedestrian and Side-Street Delay
- Improve Mainline Progression
- Enhance Safety for All Road Users
Solution: A Smart, Adaptive Traffic Management Platform
UBC initially deployed NoTraffic’s AI-driven mobility platform, later activating Optimization Mode to unlock the system’s full potential. Thanks to built-in connectivity, the transition from basic detection to full Optimization was seamless.
How NoTraffic Works
NoTraffic’s all-in-one solution blends AI-driven software with advanced hardware, optimizing intersections to create safer, smarter roadways. Traffic detection sensors continuously track real-time traffic conditions, sending data to the cloud, where Mobility OS aggregates and analyzes it.
Through the Mobility Store, agencies can access data-driven applications, creating a flexible infrastructure that allows real-time traffic adjustments without additional hardware or complex installations.
Optimization Mode: Real-Time, AI-Driven Traffic Flow Control
Using advanced predictive algorithms, Optimization Mode evaluates thousands of potential future traffic scenarios in real time. Governed by agency policies and objectives, it:
- Optimizes for vehicles, pedestrians, transit, or a combination of goals
- Simulates traffic conditions up to 120 seconds ahead
- Dynamically adapts signals to evolving traffic patterns
- Coordinates multiple intersections along key corridors
- Ensures optimized traffic flow according to agency policies
Optimization Mode is available through the Mobility Store, allowing agencies to implement software-defined, real-time traffic adjustments without additional hardware.
Result: Measurable Improvements in Mobility and Sustainability
The deployment of NoTraffic’s adaptive signal control led to significant improvements in efficiency, safety, and environmental impact:
“The other day, I was biking and just missed the light; the short queue of vehicles went, and then the light changed again right after the queue cleared. It was perfect!”
Conclusion: A Model for Campus Mobility Infrastructure
By adopting NoTraffic’s AI-driven solution, Tucson has set a new standard for smart traffic management. The city’s partnership with NoTraffic demonstrates how intelligent technology can drive real, human-centered benefits using the existing infrastructure.
Through reduced delays, improved pedestrian safety, and lower emissions, Tucson has proven that adaptive traffic management is not just possible—it’s transformative. This case study highlights Tucson’s leadership in urban innovation, paving the way for smarter, safer, and greener cities nationwide.
