Study on advanced smartphone use of probe traffic information

Probe traffic information systems, which ascertain road traffic conditions through sensors that gather data about the location and speed of vehicles driving along roadways, are finding increasing application in China. In Japan, the rapid permeation of smartphones has prompted greater consideration and application of various possibilities for linking up probe traffic information systems with smartphones. This paper will use the Zenryoku Annail service offered by the Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (NRI) as an example to discuss the progress made in linking smartphones to probe traffic information systems in Japan and the leading-edge efforts being made in this respect.