Fiber-Optic-Based Smart Transportation System

Fiber Optic-Based Intelligent Transportation System North Marmara Highway Administration (KMO) unveiled an advance presentation of a new intelligent transportation system project developed in collaboration with TÜBİTAK. According to KMO's statement, the highway operator, which operates the world's widest 4-lane tunnels, is launching a project in partnership with TÜBİTAK. Once the project, which is currently in development, is implemented, it will ensure highway safety and provide immediate and effective response services in case of incidents on the road. The project is targeted to go into operation next year and will be the world's and Turkey's first fiber optic and artificial intelligence-based intelligent transportation system. For the first time, KMO participated in the 12th Transport and Communications Council held between 6-8 October at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, presenting its latest technological solutions. KMO also unveiled the advance presentation of the new intelligent transportation system project developed in collaboration with TÜBİTAK. Developed in partnership with TÜBİTAK BİLGEM (Information Technology and Information Security Advanced Technologies Research Centre), the project aims to instantly detect and identify incidents occurring on highways through the use of fiber optic sensing systems and autonomous drones, enabling rapid and adequate response by designated personnel and institutions. The project application consists of two phases. Accordingly, the first phase involves detecting abnormalities in ground vibrations using fiber optic sensors, while the second phase entails dispatching and activating drones to the area where the abnormality has been detected. Information and images collected during drone monitoring are sent to assigned or nearest stations for necessary action to be taken. Through artificial intelligence, the project can instantly evaluate different scenarios, allowing incident details and scale to be easily analyzed. TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, quoted in the statement, noted that the Fiber Optic-Based Acoustic Sensing System FOTAS, developed through joint work by TÜBİTAK BİLGEM and SAMM Teknoloji using technologies such as laser, fiber optic, electronics, signal processing and artificial intelligence, is a domestic and national product. Stating that FOTAS has found a new application area with KMO, Mandal said: "This project, on one hand, brings to our country a system being implemented for the first time in the world, and on the other hand, represents a new capability delivered to the sector within the framework of TÜBİTAK's collaboration approach with industry. This exemplary application will serve as an inspiration for new developments in many other sectors." KMO General Manager Aynur Uluğtekin said: "As KMO, from day one we have incorporated technology, artificial intelligence, R&D and innovation into all our business processes. Now we are ready to sign an important project that will initiate a new era in ensuring the safety of our passengers traveling on KMO. Through the synergy we have established as KMO, TÜBİTAK and SAMM Teknoloji, we have reached the final stage of implementing the world's first fiber optic-based intelligent transportation system. Following an 8-year long R&D process, in our project we aim to detect incidents through artificial intelligence by jointly using fiber and laser technologies, instantly obtain aerial images with drones, and intervene at the incident site in the fastest and most accurate manner. Location determination 24/7 in all weather conditions, rapid provision of initial information regarding accidents, instant image acquisition with drone support, and enabling all teams to take action with accurate analysis and guidance will be an extremely significant achievement. Of course, with this project, our priority will continue to be human life, as always. With the world's first fiber optic and artificial intelligence-based intelligent transportation system that we will put into operation to minimize loss of life, we will cover a great distance. As KMO, we will continue to add value to the new generation highway concept through the unique benefits brought by smart technologies and artificial intelligence." KMO operates as two separate locations: on the European side between Silivri-Kınalı interchange and Eyüp-Odayeri, and on the Anatolian side between Pendik-Kurnaköy and Akyazı, serving a total highway route of 400 kilometers connected with Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and Istanbul Airport access roads, significantly reducing excess traffic load particularly in Istanbul Strait crossings. Equipped with intelligent transportation system technology to ensure the safety of highway users, KMO is monitored through 2,360 cameras, 86 variable message signs, 126 variable traffic signs, 78 traffic counting sensors, 21 meteorological stations and Scada tunnel/highway safety system data positioned along the highway route. Monitored 24/7 from one main and two sub-control centers, KMO aims to provide rapid response to incidents occurring on the highway and deliver uninterrupted, comfortable and high-standard highway traffic services. TÜBİTAK Information Technology and Information Security Advanced Technologies Research Centre (BİLGEM) stands out as one of Turkey's most competent R&D centers with over 40 years of knowledge accumulation, experience, infrastructure specialized in critical technologies, and more than 2,000 research personnel. BİLGEM has brought to Turkey as domestic and national products numerous items ranging from electronic identity to fuel marker devices, laser weapons to cryptography devices, cloud data storage systems to artificial intelligence solutions.