The concept of a smart city is not just a phrase but is already taking place in the heart of Banja Luka through the implementation of the Smart Intersections Project, led by the company TeleGroup Banja Luka. This initiative aims to improve traffic efficiency, increase road safety, and create a modern and intelligent city.

One of the key challenges for contemporary cities is managing the growing number of vehicles on the roads. To address this challenge, the City of Banja Luka decided to rely on advanced technology and implement smart intersections. TeleGroup Banja Luka, as a regional leader in innovation and technological solutions, has taken the lead in realizing this ambitious project.

By using smart traffic lights, the City of Banja Luka has gained the opportunity, like many European cities, to utilize the latest technology in traffic engineering, enabling the rational and efficient use of time at intersections. By employing innovative technologies in the field of light traffic signaling, it is possible to efficiently utilize the existing infrastructure. Through the application of appropriate detectors and complex traffic algorithms, the operation of traffic lights is adjusted in real time to the conditions at the intersection.

"Improvements observed after implementation include reduced waiting times at traffic lights for all road users (drivers, pedestrians, cyclists…), as well as increased vehicle flow during peak hours of the day. Moreover, reduced waiting times at traffic lights during nighttime hours, when traffic on the streets is light, have also been recorded, increasing the satisfaction and safety of all road users by eliminating unnecessary waiting at traffic lights during periods of reduced traffic flow,” said Miloš Stupar, Project Manager at TeleGroup.

Artificial Intelligence and IoT Devices in the Smart Intersection System

The application of video detection solutions, video analytics, and complex algorithms for selecting the activation of appropriate signal programs at each intersection allows each intersection to function as a unique ecosystem that manages the current demands of the intersection itself, taking into account incoming traffic from neighboring intersections. Complete analytics from video detectors enable the system to use real data from the road network, utilizing complex algorithms and artificial intelligence, to make decisions about the activation of signal programs. These programs are then activated via the central system at a given moment, considering the entire network of roads where the smart intersection technology has been implemented.

Stupar emphasizes that the benefits for the local community are manifold. Primarily, by managing light signaling in real time, the operation of traffic lights is adapted to actual conditions on the ground, resulting in increased vehicle flow through the city, as well as reduced noise and pollution caused by less "stop and go" traffic. Improving traffic flow with an adaptive management system directly impacts fuel consumption in vehicles, while faster travel through the city saves both the city and its citizens money and improves the daily functionality of all its residents.

Safety and User Satisfaction Are Imperatives for TeleGroup

Statistics show that with the implementation of an adaptive traffic management system, traffic flow and the speed of movement through the road network increased by over 15% compared to the previous state. Considering the reduced travel time, driver satisfaction and the satisfaction of other road users have increased, directly contributing to reduced stress, less frustration, and fewer traffic violations caused by user dissatisfaction. The use of the latest LED technology in traffic signaling has improved the visibility of traffic lights, indirectly increasing the safety of the most vulnerable road users: pedestrians.

The Smart Intersections Project in Banja Luka is an example of how technology can transform urban infrastructure and improve the everyday lives of citizens. This initiative positions Banja Luka on the map of modern cities ready to leverage the benefits of digital transformation to create a better future.