By Bob Violino

The capability of getting real-time traffic information to drivers is just beginning to emerge. Currently available and future systems can provide near-instantaneous reporting on slowdowns, and deliver more accurate predictions of future traffic conditions by using sophisticated historical analysis.

On the more leading edge is a project by engineers at the Indiana Department of Transportation. They have developed a method to continuously update how long it takes vehicles and pedestrians to travel from one point to another, using pervasive Bluetooth signals from cell phones and other wireless devices. (Bluetooth technology is used for wireless connectivity for cell phones, keyboards, personal digital assistants and other devices.)

The method the researchers envision involves picking up identifying "addresses" from consumer electronic Bluetooth devices to track travel time via detectors installed at intersections or along highways. They claim this represents a potential leap in technology to provide information on the speed of morning commutes and other traffic-related data.

The information could be used for many purposes, including better traffic signal timing and real-time traffic information for motorists, according to Darcy Bullock, a professor of civil engineering at Purdue University. Drivers would be able to access travel-time information using the same portable electronic devices that make the system possible.

Using different technology, researchers in the United Kingdom are developing an in-car navigation system that informs motorists about traffic jams and advises them about the best alternate routes to avoid congestion. The system, called Congestion Avoidance Dynamic Routing Engine (CADRE), uses artificial intelligence to interpret live traffic information shared between vehicles fitted with a special GPS.

The project is part of a consortium among the University of Portsmouth, ComSine, Smartcom Software, the Transport Research Laboratory, ViaMichelin and Hampshire County Council. CADRE works by monitoring other vehicles on the road and informing motorists five to 10 miles away of a slowdown as it is happening.

While it may be many years before these technologies make it into everyday use, those who want a real-time traffic information solution now have several options.

One approach that is gaining favor is to get traffic information via a wireless phone. For example, the Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator is a GPS-enabled application that transforms a Verizon Wireless phone into a navigation device. In addition to providing visual and audible directions to numerous locations and landmarks, the system includes a new feature to help re-route drivers around traffic.

VZ Navigator incorporates historical and real-time traffic flow data to provide an optimal travel route to a destination. It provides color-coded maps that reflect current traffic flow conditions. Incidents such as accidents are indicated with markers on the map. VZ Navigator carries a monthly subscription rate of $9.99. The application comes pre-installed on some Verizon Wireless phones.

Other GPS systems are taking a different approach that can lead drivers to the road less traveled. For instance, some GPS devices are designed with features to help motorists avoid traffic tie-ups. An example is the Dash Express from Dash Navigation Inc. It leverages the Dash Driver Network — which collects information on commute routes from a large sampling of drivers on the road — to provide accurate and current traffic information. Each Dash Express anonymously and automatically sends its position and speed to servers at a Dash Network Operations Center. The servers then update all other Dash devices in the area with current road speeds.

Dash Express ($300), which provides the most current information about businesses, products and services via the Internet, also receives traffic information from road sensors, commercial fleets and other sources. Dash Navigation frequently updates each device with data from a comprehensive historical traffic database.

Another GPS device, the Go 930 from TomTom International BV, features IQ Routes technology, which is based on real average speeds that have been measured on roads, rather than static maximum speeds per road type. This enables Go devices to determine a route by considering all possible routes then selecting the one that takes the least time.

The intelligent routing technology in the Go 930 is based on anonymous historical speed profiles of more than 6.2 billion miles of driven roads, gathered over the years by millions of TomTom users. The system, priced at $499.95, also includes RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver for detailed traffic information. And it features Advanced Lane Guidance, which provides users with realistic representations of complex highway junctions and lane-specific visual directions.

These existing and emerging technologies can help drivers avoid traffic tie-ups and get to their destinations more efficiently, potentially reducing fuel consumption and saving time as well as money.

Bio: Bob Violino is a freelance writer who covers a variety of business and technology issues.