The transportation industry has evolved over the years from the traditional means of transportation with animals to the use of cars, ships, trains, and aeroplanes. With continual technological advancement, this industry continues to experience even further growth and evolution as the industry leaders continue seeking more ways to improve the industry, making it more convenient, efficient, and effective.
The internet of things (IoT) technology provides a major boost in achieving this evolution and improvement, with IoT changing transportation from just the movement of people from one place to another to providing them with comfort and convenience, and still looks to achieve even greater things in this industry.
This article will expose you to the effects of IoT on transportation and how this technology has contributed to the changes in the trends observed in this industry. But first, let us remind ourselves of the meaning of IoT and the challenges the transportation industry faces before we look at how IoT affects transportation trends and helps solve transportation challenges.
What is IoT?
IoT stands for the internet of things and is a connection of devices with embedded features that help them collect data from their environment and share them amongst themselves over the internet. From smart watches to household appliances and various industrial machinery, this technology is applied across various aspects of life, improving our standard of living and simplifying daily tasks.
This technology is reshaping and revolutionising the transportation industry, providing it with simpler, smarter, more efficient, and more convenient ways to travel. For instance, IoT-powered autonomous vehicles can drive themselves and monitor your daily route, providing information on the state of the road, the traffic situation, and other emergencies that may arise along the road. By so doing, saving time, improving safety and convenience, and improving the overall efficiency of your car.
The introduction of IoT technology has helped solve many transportation challenges.
Challenges faced by the Transportation Industry and how IoT helps solve them
Shortage of truck drivers
The high demands of truck driving result in truck drivers quitting their jobs shortly after they start, leading to a scarcity of truck drivers willing to remain on the job for long periods and negatively impacting the industry and business logistics operations. Integrating IoT into the transportation industry has led to the invention of autonomous vehicles, making transportation easier and more convenient while optimising logistics operations.
Unpredictability of freight
The demands of the transportation industry are constantly changing, with freight volumes growing and shippers struggling to cope with the changing demands. This has led to increased difficulty in managing various business logistics operations. However, IoT allows logistics managers to plan business logistics better, optimising logistics processes for greater efficiency and productivity. In addition, IoT enables the prediction of freight movement and fosters real-time optimisation of routing decisions using a combination of data from traditional sources and real-time sensors.
Tracking of public transport
The difficulty in tracking public transport and providing necessary traffic information has discouraged the public from using public transportation, leading to more traffic on the road and greater carbon emissions due to the presence of more private cars on the road. However, with IoT technology, real-time tracking of these vehicles is now possible, giving the information of ETA at a particular stop.
Also, IoT technology provides drivers with information about traffic jams on the road, enabling them to choose the best and most convenient routes, saving time and energy. This intervention of IoT can encourage the use of public transportation and reduce carbon emissions.
And many more…
How IoT is transforming the Transportation Industry
IoT has improved the shipping process, with increased efficiency in various shipping lines like the China to Dubai shipping. The following are other benefits of IoT and how the technology has contributed to the changing trends in transportation.
Autonomous Vehicles
The combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT have led to the invention of self-driving cars. These cars work with various sensors, complex algorithms, and learning systems, allowing them to keep track of their environment while operating without the involvement of a human being. The sensors and cameras in and around the car help monitor their environment and pass the data to a cloud server, where it is used to optimise the transportation of goods and people.
Boost in Transportation Network
The rapid rise in urbanisation has led to the need for better and faster ways of transportation, providing a major challenge for the government of these cities to deal with. However, IoT has helped to simplify this complex transportation system that has been brought about by urbanisation.
IoT has enabled the connection of various aspects of life and business, including the transportation sector, creating a smart transportation system that takes care of the issues surrounding the transport system.
Safety
Safety is a major concern when it comes to the transportation of people or goods. Real-time data from IoT technology has helped autonomous cars to improve the security of persons in the car and pedestrians on the road. Also, sensors in the vehicles help communicate any potential dangers on the road or traffic delays and can also help drivers in cases of emergency.
Logistics and Geo-Fencing
Geo-fencing is an IoT tool in logistics that allows logistics managers to monitor deviations during the shipment of large goods or packages and manage large supply chains of autonomous fleets all from one device. This tool is useful in logistics for tracking goods shipments and providing real-time information on the location of the goods in transit for increased visibility.
This tool also helps prevent overcrowding and prevent slowdowns or delays in transporting goods and people. Also, real-time tracking helps improve customer experience by providing them with real-time information on the status of their orders and also helping to avert any potential delay to customer orders.
Predictive maintenance
IoT sensors can help monitor the vehicle’s health status such as battery life, fuel pump, engine, etc., and transfer the data to a cloud server. This data can help predict maintenance issues and keep the driver informed, providing suggestions or recommendations through other connected devices or car display screens.
These are to mention but a few. Other areas where IoT has transformed the transportation industry include
- Collision avoidance
- Advanced Infotainment
- Smart Tires
- Effective Fleet Management
- Easier reporting and regulatory compliance, etc.
