Navigating Traffic: A Survey of Techniques and Challenges in Congestion Detection

Abstract

Traffic congestion is a pervasive problem in urban areas due to the increasing number of people owning vehicles each year. The consequences of congestion include air pollution, increased fuel consumption, and wasted time and money. Therefore, traffic congestion detection is vital for effectively monitoring and managing traffic flow. Moreover, congestion detection can aid in the development of several applications, including Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), traffic management, emergency services, and environmental management. Researchers have utilized various approaches in the past to alleviate or resolve congestion. This paper highlights several recently proposed techniques for detecting traffic congestion. Additionally, it discusses five potential challenges that may arise for further improvement in the future: traffic features, congestion levels, traffic scene factors, real-time detection, and location scalability.