On Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 11:02 AM, Titus Ngeno <titus.ngeno@ebix.com> wrote:

Listers,

Nairobi is a great regional hub/city but its transport system by the twenty-first century is obviously lagging behind the needs of its economy and its citizens.

The population of Nairobi is growing daily and little being done on sustain ability initiative. Can we use technology for traffic management? Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

We actually did some work on this a year ago. Idea was to crowdsource traffic data using a combination of manual (i.e. SMS text) and automatic (i.e. smartphone [specifically GPS + accelerometer]) means as a basis for building dynamic real-time maps of traffic flow from the people actually stuck in the traffic. Worked out really well -- we also have benchmarks between A*, D* and D* lite for this scenario and extensions to A* to reduce computation and space overheads. As a side-note, earlier this year I created a proof-of-concept for predicting traffic flow using the data available from the Access Kenya traffic cameras available online. It was surprisingly accurate and useful given the low frame rate and resolution of the image data, working excellently between directly connected nodes (junctions) and moderately well between indirectly connected nodes. So yes, proof-of-concepts seem to indicate there is something to be gained.

Hi, We have broadband internet yet 90% of us still commute when we do not need to, so lets first apply technology ourselves.  Unless we in the technology industry apply the resources at our disposal to "extend the umbilical code" the congestion will continue.  The longer winded solution to resolving the congestion in the City is as follows: (based on the City Centre Master Plan done in 1974) So long as the City Council insists that for every housing development you must allocate 1.5 parking spaces per unit this problem will not go away, what we need is to penalise any developer who provides parking space for any units that are less than 300 square meters in size. If you look at any well planned city you have 3 or more rings around the CBD with distances of 2 to 5 kilometres in between.   Lets see how Nairobi would be if we applied the same rules, the CBD at the core (GPO as the centre) measuring about 2 kilometres in radius, using technology such as Google Earth that will take us to Westlands, Nyayo Stadium, Hurlingham,  and Pangani.   This areas should be ear marked as a very high density region zoned for commercial activities with minimal vehicular traffic (walking distance from Muthurua Bus Park to GPO is less than 2 KM).  Approval to drive your private vehicle into this area should be issued by KRA and City Council based on your financial contribution to the City. The second ring will be 2 kilometres wide and this will provide the first residential areas which will be zoned as high density residential and with no parking spaces provided.  The City Council is already implemented part of this by increasing the building ration in Kilimani, Lileleshwa and parts of Kilimani from 60% to 200%.   What this means is that on a 1 acre plot in this area a developer can put up 80 to 100 2 bedroom apartments whereas previously they could only get approval for 25 to 30.  This zone extends to Eastleigh, Muthaiga, Embakassy, Spring Valley, Kirichwa Road, Parts of Kibera (current population is over 500,000 people with a ratio of less than 1 car per 1000) and Woodley.  As we have reduced the space available for parking cars most residents will use public means.  At the outer periphery parking silos could be provided to accommodate the cars of those coming in from Zone 3. Zone 3 is the second residential area with medium density houses with parking spaces, this is your current Buru Buru, Karen and Embakassy areas.  A 4th Ring will consist of the first level that can be termed as suburbs, the 5th Ring will be outside Nairobi thus making the problem that of another county, the cars from that areas will be kept out by high toll charges.  Those resident in the 4th ring and beyond are already having their transport requirements into the City being planned with the setting up of the train stations at Githurai, Mulolongo and Kikuyu. This scenario has been generated using google earths ruler feature, now that is what we calling applying technology Regards   Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Titus Ngeno <titus.ngeno@Ebix.com> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 27 December 2011, 14:02 Subject: [kictanet] Nairobi traffic congestion -what is the role of technology Listers, Nairobi  is a great regional hub/city but its transport system by the twenty-first century is obviously lagging behind the needs of its economy and its citizens. The population of Nairobi is growing daily and little being done on sustain ability initiative. Can we use technology for traffic management? Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T ________________________________ The information contained in this message may be CONFIDENTIAL and is for the intended addressee only. Any unauthorized use, dissemination of the information, or copying of this message is prohibited. If you are not the intended addressee, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u... The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.