Over recent years, Da Nang has seen an increasing number of traffic vehicles, 80% of which are motorbikes.  Meanwhile, the city lacks adequate urban public transport services.  These factors have resulted in a rise in the amount of traffic congestion in the city and more road traffic accidents.

Surveillance cameras have been installed at some local intersections, but their images of the faces of violators and their vehicles’ registration plates are not clearly visible.

In an attempt to solve these problems, a seminar entitled ‘Information and Communications Technology Solutions to Build Da Nang into a Smart City’ took place in the city on Monday.  The event was jointly organised by the municipal Department of Science and Technology and the Centre for Informatics and Computing of the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology.

Some of Da Nang’s leaders, along with urban traffic managers and scientists nationwide, attended the event.  Discussions focused on the city’s current traffic situation, effective ways to resolve the traffic problems, and the smart technology solutions which might meet the increasing demands of local residents.

Traffic controlled by lights at the intersection of Tran Phu and Le Duan

To ensure the sustainable development of local transport infrastructure planning, one focus will be on increasing the application of modern technologies to improve the city’s urban traffic management and planning, resolve the problems of overloaded vehicles and traffic congestion at local intersections, and other pressing issues.

In addition, importance will be attached to managing transport infrastructure by using a geographic information system and upgrading the city’s traffic signals and Public Transport Control Centre.

New surveillance cameras are to be installed at local intersections which will feature automatic facial recognition and flow sensor systems, along with automatic load-balancing techniques.

Greater efforts will be made to conduct research into the creation of a smart parking-area management system and to develop a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the city.

The newly-elected Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman, Mr Ho Ky Minh, stressed the need for the city to take even more effective measures to deal with traffic violations and congestion in the city. 

Importance will be attached to perfecting the city’s infrastructure to facilitate the operation of its e-government system and to build Da Nang into a smart city in order to bring satisfaction to local residents.

Vice Chairman Minh pledged that the local authorities would create very favourable conditions for domestic and international scientists and sponsors who are willing to help Da Nang become a more liveable, civilised and modern city in the near future.