ClearObject Partnership with State of Indiana uses Vision AI to Improve Snow Management
Indiana residents could see improved snow management this winter, thanks to a unique partnership between the state and ClearObject.
The tech company partnered with the Indiana Department of Transportation to develop and deploy an AI-powered snow management solution.
Using groundbreaking computer vision artificial intelligence technology, ClearObject, the Indianapolis-based digital transformation company, has partnered with the Indiana Department of Transportation to develop and deploy a snow management solution powered by artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, hosted in a ClearObject Vision AI platform.
The ClearObject partnership with the department’s transport team created a solution that uses existing data from camera feeds from static highway cameras and mounted dashboard cameras on the state’s snowplows.
ClearObject was able to use that data to create highly accurate machine learning models that are capable of determining the level of snow coverage. The camera data feeds allow for better evaluation of conditions and needs. The model also provides insights that are useful for central snow management teams in determining coverage and deployment of equipment and personnel.
A Model for Future Snow Management
The ClearObject partnership used a model that takes information from those camera feeds, along with weather data and traffic information to create a clearer, real-time picture of road conditions and needs.
The model is stored in the cloud and allows for better, faster decisions about snow and ice removal. Snow management data are available via fully configurable dashboards and an application for notifications and alerts.
The solution is built on the Google Cloud Platform, which provides a reliable and secure solution that uses leading machine learning and artificial intelligence technology.
The snow management solution allows state agencies to create powerful solutions that impact residents and drivers, including:
● Reducing the costs of snow removal and cleanup
● Optimize snow removal
● Increasing mobility during and after storms
● Improving road safety by reducing unsafe driving conditions
It can be deployed in as little as 12 weeks, allowing transportation agencies to reduce costs and improve safety quickly.
Noel Hopkins, ClearObject’s head of customer success, notes that most states have snow management programs that can cost, depending on the duration and volume of snow events, more than $50 million annually. Technology, driven by the rise in available video data, is increasingly being used to reduce those costs while improving road safety, he noted.
ClearObject Partnership Example of Groundbreaking Vision AI
The ClearObject partnership with Indiana is just one example of the way the company is leveraging emerging technologies to transform the way companies and agencies deliver products and services. ClearObject is a leader in developing Vision AI capabilities for multiple customer uses in industries ranging from energy to retail to manufacturing.
Today, businesses are generating extraordinary amounts of data, much of it in the form of images and video. Companies are often challenged with how to leverage the vast amounts of data.
Vision AI is a powerful option, allowing companies to use inspection, monitoring, and spatial awareness data they already possess. When using machine learning solutions, companies can augment or in many cases replace the need for manual inspection of video and images. Machine learning algorithms can be trained to identify, assess and model solutions such as in the snow removal case.
Vision AI solutions deliver more accuracy and consistency while removing interpretation bias and subjectivity. Inspections and analysis of data are more accurate and can be used faster to drive better solutions that can be deployed quickly.
ClearObject has created a suite of mobility solutions powered by Vision AI. The solutions are designed to improve road safety and mobility.
ClearObject, working with transportation agencies, is developing solutions to improve traffic flow, optimize preventative maintenance, and plan more effective future transit solutions.
Originally published at https://www.techtimes.com/ on September 18, 2021.
