TASK 5 | DEFINING THE PROBLEM
TASK 5 | DEFINING THE PROBLEM
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PROBLEM STATEMENT
[Designing a Smart Traffic System for Dover Road, Singapore]
"Dover Road in Singapore experiences significant traffic congestion between 07:30 and 08:30 each weekday morning, primarily due to the high volume of vehicles heading to three schools located in close proximity. This surge in traffic during peak hours creates several challenges, including:
Late Arrivals: Many students, parents, and staff face delays, leading to frequent late arrivals at the schools, disrupting educational activities and increasing stress levels.
Impact on Non-School Traffic: The heavy congestion not only affects school-related traffic but also significantly holds up non-school vehicles, including commuters and residents who use Dover Road as a thoroughfare.
Emergency Service Delays: The congestion poses a serious risk by potentially delaying emergency services, such as ambulances and fire engines, from reaching their destinations promptly. This could result in life-threatening consequences.
Environmental and Noise Pollution: Prolonged traffic jams contribute to increased air pollution due to vehicle emissions, as well as heightened noise levels, affecting the quality of life for nearby residents.
The existing traffic light system on Dover Road is inadequate to manage the fluctuating traffic patterns efficiently. A smart traffic management system is required to prioritize different traffic types, streamline the flow of vehicles during peak hours, and ensure timely access for all road users, including emergency services. This project aims to design and implement such a system, leveraging modern technology to alleviate congestion and improve overall traffic conditions on Dover Road."
STAKEHOLDER TESTIMONIALS (via interviews)
OBSERVATION OF THE PROBLEM
The maps below show the traffic 'pinch points' - where and when traffic jams occur between 07.00 and 08.00. You may want to use Google Maps to simulate even more accurate travel times.
07:00
07:30
08:00
INTERVIEW + SURVEY (PRIMARY DATA)
It is encouraged that you interview affected stakeholders to get first-hand accounts and feedback based on their real-world experiences.
You might:
Speak to people face to face and make notes or record a video with permission
Send a Google Survey to those affected
Photograph or video the location
Note: We all travel to Dover Campus with the large majority having to navigate the traffic on Dover Road - you all know at least one person suitable for interview.
SINGAPORE TRAFFIC STATS (READ)
SINGAPORE TRAFFIC STATS (READ)
TASK 1: DEFINING THE PROBLEM [CONNECTION CIRCLES]
Connection circles are a tool for visualising relationships in a story or a system. They help you understand complexity by seeing causes and effects in the system.
TASK:
Write down all of the things that could be causing the traffic issues (around the circles, on the dotted lines)
How do you know what's a key element? It meets these criteria:
It's important to changes in the system
Increases or decreases in the system
Can be described by a noun
Look for cause and effect.
Which elements are directly causing other elements to increase or decrease?
Draw an arrow between these elements.
Indicate an increase (draw a "+") or a decrease (draw a "–") for the second element in each relationship.
Add a scan/photo to the 'Defining the Problem' portfolio slide once complete
EXAMPLE
TASK 2: DEFINING THE PROBLEM [UNPACKING]
Use and refer to the project overview (above & in your portfolio)
Refer to the testimonies, research and interviews conducted to answer the questions on this portfolio slide
Break down the problem into the individual sections to better understand causation and consequence before designing a solution (later)
Add images and cite text to support your research and to justify what you are saying
BE SURE TO ADD EVIDENCE TO EACH TEAM MEMBER'S PORTFOLIO
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