Page 34 - RMAI Bulletin July 2024

RMAI BULLETIN JULY 2024

AI-assisted safety on the speedways

A s the government explores ways to achieve avert traffic congestion, accidents drivers about road

its goal of halving road accident fatalities by
conditions, guiding them through route changes, and
2030, an emerging solution is the use of
alerting them to potential hazards.
artificial intelligence (AI) technology for
effiective monitoring of traffic patterns and smart road Road signs, as a part of intelligent transportation
signages to guide motorists. systems, can continuously monitor the driver, vehicle,
and road. This, in turn, can aid the smooth movement
The National Highways Authority of India recently of vehicles and goods, especially given India's rapidly
signed a memorandum of understanding with expanding road network and vehicle count.
Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT),
Delhi, for a project involving the use of AI to enhance Road signs reduce accidents by providing advance
the number and quality of highway roadsigns for warnings about curves, intersections, pedestrian
improved safety and real-time traffic management. crossings, speed limits and other critical aspects,
explains Prajjwal Misra, Director, Rudrabhishek
IIIT-Delhi will conduct surveys to collect imagery and Infosystem, a company that provides end-toend
other related data on the availability and condition of consultancy for a range of urban development and
road signages on select national highway (NH) infrastructure projects.
stretches, cumulatively measuring about 25,000 km.
The data will be processed through AI for the Secondly, it helps in managing traffic efficiently.
identification and classification of road signs. The Moreover, standardised road signs ensure uniformity
survey report will include a geo-stamped inventory of across the highway network, which is especially
existing signs with categorisation, broad details on beneficial for drivers travelling long distances across
their structural condition, and other details. state lines, he says.

There will also be a 'gap study' to assess the mismatch He explains that AI and geographic information
between the survey findings and the road sign systems (GIS) can help improve road traffic-related
requirement stipulated under the contract agreements services by analysing vast amounts of traffic data
for road development. It will also map the collected from cameras, sensors, and GPS devices.
requirements, as per the latest codal provisions for Machine learning algorithms can predict traffic
high-speed corridors, for enhanced safety. patterns, identify high-risk areas, and recommend the
most effective locations for road signs.
Intelligent Signages "For instance, AI can detect accident-prone areas and

Adequate availability of road signs enhances safety on suggest placing warning signs or speed limit indicators
highways by providing clear, consistent and timely in those areas. Additionally, AI-driven systems can
information to drivers. They serve as vital continuously monitor the condition of road signs using
communication tools, informing image recognition technology, automatically
identifying signs that are damaged, obscured, or
Smart signs can readjust messages in real-time, helping missing, and generate maintenance alerts," he says.

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