Computer Vision for Smart Cities | Revolutionizing Urban Mobility

The Growing Challenge of Urban Deliveries

In October 2019, The New York Times documented 1.5 million package deliveries occurring daily within New York City. While convenient for consumers and advantageous for companies like Amazon, this volume of shipments creates significant negative consequences for urban centers.

The Times highlighted the impact on city life, stating that the pursuit of convenience is demonstrably affecting gridlock, roadway safety, and pollution levels in New York City and similar urban areas globally.

E-commerce Expansion and Future Concerns

Since the publication of that report, the global pandemic has dramatically accelerated the growth of e-commerce. Experts anticipate this trend will continue, and without proactive strategies, cities will likely experience increasingly severe traffic congestion, safety hazards, and increased pollution.

Urban roadways have struggled with these issues for decades. However, technological advancements are now providing new tools to address challenges related to crowding, pollution, and parking enforcement in densely populated areas.

Understanding the Problem Through Data

An effective solution invariably begins with a thorough understanding of the underlying circumstances. In this instance, assessing the situation can be achieved by observing curbside parking and street traffic using existing streetlight cameras.

Addressing Privacy Concerns

Deploying cameras for public space monitoring can understandably raise concerns among privacy advocates. Companies, including ours, are adopting a privacy-by-design approach to product development to mitigate these concerns.

Our technology processes video in real-time, and further addresses potential misuse for surveillance by blurring faces and license plates before any image data is accessed internally or by public officials.

The primary goal of these cameras isn’t surveillance, but rather to utilize concrete data from city streets to generate valuable insights and enable automated curb management.

Optimizing Parking and Reducing Waste

Automotus’ computer vision software is currently applying this approach to help cities manage the increasing number of commercial vehicles operating within their boundaries.

This technology can also be used to optimize and incentivize parking turnover. A study revealed that New York City drivers spend an average of 107 hours annually searching for parking, resulting in $2,243 per driver in wasted time, fuel, and emissions – a collective $4.3 billion cost to the city.

Similar inefficiencies are occurring across the United States and worldwide. By gathering comprehensive data on the demand for curbside space, cities can develop parking policies that align supply with actual vehicle usage.

Successful Pilot Program

A pilot program conducted at Loyola Marymount University demonstrated a greater than 20% reduction in traffic caused by drivers searching for parking after our data was used to adjust parking policies.

Utilizing data to optimize parking leads to more efficient turnover, less time spent circling for available spaces, and reduced traffic delays. Real-time parking availability data can also guide drivers to open spots through applications or APIs.

Empowering City Planners with Information

By providing city planners with accurate, current information on all curbside activities, we empower them to fully grasp the temporal and spatial patterns governing their curbs.

This equips planners with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about curbside policies tailored to their city’s unique characteristics.

Questions like “How many ride-hailing drop-offs occur at this location?” and “Which delivery trucks are double-parking on Tuesday mornings?” become easily answered.

The reliance on imprecise assumptions for policy guidance is eliminated, enabling precise and impactful decisions regarding passenger parking, dedicated delivery zones, ride-hailing areas, parking rates, and violation penalties.

Benefits for Delivery Companies

This technology also benefits delivery companies. Access to data regarding real-time and predicted parking availability can improve route efficiency and reduce operational costs.

Instead of incurring fines for illegal curb usage, delivery companies can receive an invoice for their curb time – a tax-deductible expense.

Columbus, Ohio Case Study

A study in Columbus, Ohio, showed that designated loading zones decreased double-parking violations by 50% and reduced commercial vehicle curb time by 28%. This increased efficiency translates into savings for companies like FedEx and Amazon, allowing them to offer more affordable rates and pass savings on to consumers.

A Timely Opportunity for Change

Several converging trends create an opportune moment to implement new technology on our streets and curbs. Prior to the pandemic, many cities were already experiencing declining revenue from parking due to the rise of ride-sharing services.

Currently, thousands of American municipalities are anticipating significant budget shortfalls as a result of COVID-19. Simultaneously, a World Economic Forum report forecasts a 36% increase in commercial delivery vehicles in inner cities by 2030.

Our research indicates that over 50% of parking violations go unenforced and are committed by commercial vehicles.

Federal and Local Initiatives

Columbus’s victory in the 2016 federal Smart City Challenge is no coincidence. Former President Obama’s “Smart Cities” initiative, launched in 2015, pledged over $160 million with goals of reducing congestion and pollution.

Effective parking and curb space management are essential tools for achieving these objectives. While former President Trump proposed a large infrastructure plan, its implementation was limited. Despite the lack of consistent federal support, promising initiatives are underway in cities like Santa Monica, which is piloting a zero-emissions delivery zone.

Looking Ahead with Biden’s Infrastructure Plan

President Biden has proposed a plan to modernize urban transportation and combat climate change, including provisions for 500,000 public charging stations for electric vehicles, safer road sharing for all users, and investment in clean energy solutions.

Curb management technology is one of many options available to federal and local governments to reduce pollution and enhance urban quality of life. If the administration champions this innovative approach, America’s infrastructure can be modernized and prepared for the future.

I remain hopeful that this renewal will be realized, as our nation’s health, safety, and prosperity depend on it.