by Han-Ru Xie

Recently, a foreign media reporting that “Taiwan is a living hell for pedestrians” has attracted public attention. There are many innovations using technology aimed at applications in traffic. It is hoped that AI, drones, and other technologies can provide assistance in reducing traffic accidents.

AI combined with drones to prevent accidents from any causes

 The government joins hands with academia, Institute of Transportation under the MOTC and the Department of Transportation and Logistics Management of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), trying to use drones and AI image recognition to obtain the location, type, and movement trajectory of pedestrians and vehicles in an accident. With analysis of images of the scenes, the cause of the accidents can be studied.

According to Associate Professor Ka-Io Wong from NYCU, with AI real-time impact analysis, information such as traffic trajectories of people and vehicles can be obtained immediately; therefore, quickly identifying accidents and the cause of them. In addition to saving manpower, the system can implement preventive measures more efficiently to improve traffic safety.

The overview images taken by drones can help expand the area of observation. The captured videos can be rewound to double check the results of analysis. In the future, aerial photography is also expected to be fully automated. Although there are certain restricted areas and weather conditions to be taken into account, this technology can still be a plus in improving traffic safety.

AI traffic signal

Canon Group is now devoted in smart city projects. With the built-in AI marginal computing analysis module of the PAECIA systems from its agent AIMobile, combined with the intelligent traffic signal system by CECI, the solution is used in assisting governments across Taiwan to implement AI-based dynamics traffic signs, which have brought remarkable improvements so far.

Take the Transportation Bureau of Taichung City Government for instance. The Taichung Main Arterial Road Intelligent Dynamic Continuing Signal Project has been implemented since 2020, and there are AI detectors on Wuquan West Road responsible for collecting data on traffic flow at intersections and travel time of vehicles in between road blocks installed with eTag devices.

The collected data is analyzed by the system for intelligent dynamic signal control for planning the signal timing, according to the real-time traffic conditions. In this way, traffic efficiency at arterial roads cam be greatly improved.

According to statistics, after this facility is put to operation, Taichung City has saved 66,245 hours of vehicle parking and delay time and reduced 102,018 liters of fuel consumption and 230.9 metric tons of CO2 emissions. The numbers can be converted into economic benefits for annual carbon reduction at a total of NT$ 19,087,231, which is quite an achievement.

Conclusion

 Taiwan enjoys advanced technology, and it is hoped that more resources will be invested in smart transportation to help people prevent accidents, minimize the possibility of accidents, and save more innocent lives.