Vision-Based Adaptive Traffic Signal System with LoRa Emergency Vehicle Priority

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and the increasing number of vehicles have led to severe traffic congestion and inefficient traffic management systems. Conventional traffic signals operate using fixed timing mechanisms, which fail to adapt to real-time traffic conditions and emergency situations. This research proposes SmartFlow, a vision-based adaptive traffic signal management system integrated with LoRa communication for emergency vehicle prioritization. The system utilizes a Raspberry Pi with a camera module to analyze real-time traffic density using computer vision techniques. Based on detected vehicle density across multiple lanes, signal timings are dynamically adjusted to optimize traffic flow. Additionally, LoRa-enabled communication allows emergency vehicles to transmit priority signals to intersections, ensuring faster clearance and reduced response time. The proposed system enhances traffic efficiency, minimizes congestion, reduces waiting time, and improves emergency response performance.

Introduction

Traffic congestion in urban areas is increasing due to rising population and vehicle numbers, while traditional fixed-time traffic signals fail to adapt to real-time conditions, causing delays, fuel wastage, and pollution.

To address this, the proposed SmartFlow system introduces an intelligent traffic management solution that combines computer vision and LoRa wireless communication. The system uses cameras and a Raspberry Pi to monitor traffic density in real time and dynamically adjust signal timings for efficient traffic flow.

A key feature is emergency vehicle prioritization, where vehicles equipped with LoRa transmitters send signals to the traffic junction. Upon receiving this signal, the system immediately gives a green light to the relevant lane, ensuring faster movement of emergency vehicles.

Conclusion

The system integrates components such as Raspberry Pi (central controller), Pi Camera (traffic monitoring), ESP32 with LoRa modules (communication), and signal control hardware. Overall, SmartFlow provides a cost-effective, adaptive, and scalable solution that improves traffic efficiency, reduces delays, and enhances emergency response compared to traditional systems.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Nakul Kunjir, Shritej Garud, Aditya Shastri, Prof. Varsha Nanavare. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.