English 
Spanish 
5 min read
0 comments
Google's new invention, called Green Light, could be the definitive solution to traffic jams, bringing about a revolution in urban traffic management and promising to transform mobility in large cities.
Being stuck in a huge traffic jam can be frustrating, but Google, one of the world's largest technology companies, is developing a project that promises to significantly reduce the time spent in traffic. With this solution, fuel savings and reduced carbon emissions become a reality, making daily commuting more efficient and sustainable.
How many times have you found yourself stopped at a traffic light for no apparent reason? This common occurrence at urban intersections may seem harmless, but the environmental impact is significant. According to research, pollution at these intersections can be up to 29 times higher than on open roads. A considerable portion of these emissions come from traffic accelerating after stopping.
With millions of traffic lights around the world, small improvements to this traffic system could result in a huge reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Of course, traffic jams would be much smaller.
- 100% Brazilian radar worth R$147 million promises to revolutionize air defense and put Brazil at the forefront of global innovation
- Urgent alert: Gmail will delete accounts en masse this December! Find out now if yours is in the crosshairs and how to avoid losing your data!
- Watch out, Elon Musk! Mark Zuckerberg overtakes Warren Buffett and is closing in on Jeff Bezos in the ranking of the richest people
- Discover the safest place on the planet: a fortress with more than 1 million seeds that can only be accessed 6 times a year
See more
Google's challenge to optimize traffic lights
Em 2020, the team of Google Research was challenged to find ways to accelerate climate change mitigation. Among several ideas, such as cultured meat and solutions for air pollution, a curious suggestion emerged: why not optimize the functioning of traffic lights?
The idea was put forward by Osnat, wife of Dotan Emanuel, an engineer on the team. She questioned the need to stop so often at traffic lights for no apparent reason. Although the suggestion sounded unlikely at first, Emanuel realized that the real potential for research lay in underexplored areas like this.
Road transport is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The problem is exacerbated at urban intersections, where pollution reaches alarming levels. The challenge was enormous: how to optimize traffic light timing without the need to install expensive hardware or perform time-consuming manual counts?
The birth of the Green Light Project
The answer came by leveraging Google Maps’ vast experience in mapping traffic trends. The research team developed a proposal that became Project Green Light, an innovative initiative that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize the operation of traffic lights. The goal is to reduce waiting times at intersections and reduce emissions generated by the constant movement of “stop and accelerate".
The project’s AI analyzes traffic flow at an intersection, identifying start and stop patterns, average wait times, and coordination between adjacent intersections.
With this information, the model proposes simple improvements, such as adjusting the red light time by a few seconds or coordinating the operation of traffic lights that are not yet synchronized.
The most impressive thing is that, unlike other solutions that require large investments in infrastructure, Green Light was designed to be simple and easy to implement.
Cities don’t need to invest in new software or equipment. Recommendations are sent directly to traffic engineers, who can implement them in a matter of minutes.
First results and global expansion: will it reduce traffic jams?
Since the project’s first pilot, carried out in 2021, Green Light has shown promising results. The program has been tested in several cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, Seattle and Bengaluru, and has already reached more than 70 intersections around the world.
With the help of a comprehensive dashboard, partner cities can monitor recommendations and see the impact of traffic changes in real time.
The results are impressive. At some intersections, the team managed to reduce the number of stops by up to 30%, and emissions of pollutants fell by up to 10%. Today, Green Light already contributes to fuel savings and emissions reductions in up to 30 million car trips per month.
The expectation is that the project will expand to hundreds of cities and thousands of intersections in the coming years.
The aim is to make traffic more efficient, reduce urban pollution and, as a bonus, provide drivers with that feeling of satisfaction when passing through a sequence of green lights, without interruptions.
Environmental and social impact
In addition to contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the Green Light Project also brings direct benefits to drivers.
With fewer unnecessary stops, traffic flows better, travel time is reduced and the frustration of being stuck in traffic jams is reduced.
Alon Harris, program manager, highlights that the project is a unique opportunity to generate positive climate impact without demanding large investments from cities.
The idea is that by showing detailed reports with impact metrics, more cities will adopt the technology, further expanding the benefits of Green Light.
The future of Green Light
Looking ahead, Project Green Light aims to expand globally, covering hundreds of cities and thousands of intersections.
By using AI to optimize traffic light timing, the team hopes to make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while improving the quality of life for drivers and urban communities.
Google’s initiative exemplifies how technology can be a powerful ally in the fight against climate change. With simple but scalable solutions, it is possible to make a real difference in people’s daily lives and in the future of the planet.
As Dotan Emanuel concludes, the feeling of passing a sequence of green traffic lights not only improves the mood of the driver, but also represents a significant victory for the environment. By making this experience more common, Green Light is paving the way for a more sustainable future.
