A $500,000 state grant will help researchers at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga deploy real-time technology aimed at making intersections safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
The funding, awarded by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, will support two projects by UTC’s Center for Urban Informatics and Progress. The first project will use artificial intelligence to analyze live footage from traffic cameras and sensors, predicting collisions before they happen and alerting users in real time.
“We’re focused on how to bring research out of the lab and into the real world,” said Mina Sartipi, the center’s founding director, in a statement.
The system, developed in partnership with Japan-based auto supplier Denso, would calculate potential paths of vehicles and pedestrians and send alerts via in-car notifications or smartphone messages. Future versions could include haptic feedback to helmets or handlebars.
A second project will pilot a “smart crosswalk, adding color-changing lighting around crosswalks to increase visibility, especially at night. The system can also adjust crossing time for users with mobility needs.
The technologies will be tested along Martin Luther King Boulevard in Chattanooga, where much of the infrastructure is already in place.
“These initiatives not only enhance the quality of life in Chattanooga but also demonstrate how UTC can drive progress that benefits our community, economy and the entire state,” said Robert Dooley, interim Chancellor at UTC, in a statement.
The systems will use on-site computing with no stored footage, maintaining privacy while speeding up processing and reducing costs.
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press, Local 3 News
