A real-time traffic status platform to help reduce road congestion and optimize urban traffic plans has been launched in China.

Initiated by navigation and digital map provider AutoNavi in conjunction with traffic management authorities in eight cities across the country, it will provide authorities with real-time information, including road conditions in popular destinations and a ranking of congestion hotspots in cities.

"The platform will also serve as a database for traffic management authorities to improve their efficiency and capacity in public service," said Dong Zhenning, technology vice-president of AutoNavi Software Co, which monitors roads in more than 100 cities across the country.

It will also include early warning of major traffic incidents, including road accidents, he said.

Traffic management authorities can use real-time data to optimize the dispatch of officers to maintain order on the roads and deal with accidents.

The platform has so far been open to authorities in just eight cities and Dong said he hopes more will be able to use it in the near future.

"We will diversify and provide more early warning services in the future, including forecasts of the travel rush during holidays and analysis of the effects of policies to help the authorities," he said.