Sensors to ‘predict’ road user behaviour trialled in Cambridge

Camera-based technology with artificial intelligence (AI) is being trialled in Cambridge to make crossing the road safer.

The initiative is a collaboration between the Greater Cambridge Partnership and Starling Technologies, with support from Cambridgeshire County Council’s traffic signals team.

The system identifies different user types such as crossers that are confident, reluctant, or running. It also detects near-miss incidents, as well as vehicles and cyclists.

A spokesperson from Starling Technologies told Cities Today: “Central to Starling’s products is the ability to ‘detect’ all types of pavement and road users as they approach and use the crossing. Once detected, we then assign behaviour through adding detailed metadata to the analysis.

“The ‘predicting’ aspect relates to the use of machine learning to build a model that learns from the data from users and their behaviour to be able to predict what will happen in the near future as users approach and use the crossing.”

Acting on the data

Linked smart signals could then adjust automatically based on the amount of traffic and the number of pedestrians who want to cross at a particular location to keep people moving and prevent the risk of crowding on the pavement.

In addition, a lot of ‘reluctant’ crossers could suggest pedestrians are worried about high vehicle approach speeds and stopping distance from the crossing. This could highlight the need for real-time signage to provide additional warning to vehicles or extended crossing times for pedestrians.

The technology is being trialled at East Road in the city.

Privacy

Dan Clarke, the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Head of Innovation and Technology, said: “This is an exciting piece of work that aims to cement Greater Cambridge as a leading city for innovation, research and technology.

“This will help us to build on the innovative work already being delivered in the area by trialling new signals technology so that those cycling and walking have safer, quicker and more enjoyable journeys through the city.”

Andrew Caleya Chetty, CEO of Starling Technologies, said: “For active travel to have an impact on how the city moves around and to enable Cambridge to get to net zero, alternative travel networks need to be available and safe.“

Signage will be installed so people are aware that the system is in operation.

“Starling products are designed with privacy first,” the company’s spokesperson said. “The way that Starling processes the data means that individuals are not identified by any of our products.”