PolyU professor's traffic system wins Apec award after easing jams in Bangkok

A Polytechnic University professor has won a prestigious prize for developing a traffic management system that has slashed commuting times in the highly congested streets of Bangkok.

Dr Agachai Sumalee, who won this year's Apec Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education, is an associate professor at the university's department of civil and environmental engineering.

His traffic management system allows highway managers to predict traffic conditions and prevent congestion.

The system was tested for a year on a 27km stretch of expressway in Bangkok and is estimated to have saved the Thai capital more than HK$7.7 million by easing its notorious congestion problem, according to an independent assessment cited by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.

"Intelligent transportation will greatly facilitate green and sustainable growth, environmental protection [and] energy conservation … in the Apec region," said China's science and technology vice-minister Cao Jianlin, who presented the award in Beijing yesterday.

"Better management of transportation arteries is vital to building smarter, low-carbon cities that support sustainable urbanisation and increased capacity for economic growth," said Dr Agus Hoetman, who chairs the Apec Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation.