Las Vegas trials smart kerb management solution

Las Vegas has launched a kerb management trial that uses video analytics and smart parking technology to control loading zones for taxis and rideshare vehicles along a section of the city’s Main Street.

In partnership with Cox Communications, the project aims to reduce downtown congestion and make conditions safer for visitors and pedestrians.

Two digital kiosks will monitor six parking spots along the pavement, with video analytics from devices along the kerb capturing vehicle and licence plate information and sending utilisation data back to the kiosks which kicks off a countdown timer.

If a vehicle remains in the loading zone after the countdown ends, the system reports the incident directly to the city, ensuring a constant flow of traffic.

“The city is working on a variety of smart and innovative public-private partnerships, just like this one,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman. “We appreciate Cox for their out-of-the-box thinking and assistance as we work together to ease traffic congestion in our downtown. It’s ideas like this one that will move our city into the future.”

On the backend, the Cox platform provides cloud processing of traffic flow information, an on-screen interface to display vehicle information, and an online portal to report traffic flows and pedestrian counts.

The pilot is set to last for six-months with the potential to extend.

Managing the kerb

An increase in deliveries and demand for outdoor space to accommodate dining and socially distanced movement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has put increased pressure on kerb management, with cities looking for digital solutions to solve issues.

In December, open-source data non-profit the Open Mobility Foundation (OMF) announced the creation of its first Curb Management Working Group to deliver “data and application programming interface (API) specifications that facilitate the inventory, exchange and analysis of information describing kerb assets, regulations and occupancy.”

The group is managed and directed by a steering committee made up of OMF members, including the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, City of Minneapolis, San Diego Association of Governments, San Francisco MTA, City of San Jose, Seattle Department of Transportation, and several private sector members of the OMF, including Automotus, Coord and Ford AV.

Last July, Coord announced the winners of its first Digital Curb Challenge, a project aimed at providing delivery and service vehicle drivers with information and incentives to deliver where it is safe and permitted, and giving cities more information to manage their kerb space using the company’s kerb management platform.

The mobility firm launched a second challenge in January, with the winners expected to be announced this May.

Image: Cox Communications