Cutting-edge artificial intelligence is being used to make one of Sydney’s busiest pedestrian hotspots safer.
A world-first trial at Manly in Sydney’s Northern Beaches has cut risky crossings by more than a third, using smart cameras, AI data processing and adaptive traffic lights to safely move crowds pouring off ferries and buses.
At the intersection of The Esplanade and Belgrave Street, where pedestrian numbers can surge from a dozen to more than a thousand in minutes, the technology has delivered a 34 per cent drop in people stepping out on the flashing red man, the New South Wales Government said.
The high-tech smart system uses thermal imaging cameras to detect real-time crowd numbers, feeding live data straight into Transport for NSW’s adaptive traffic platform, SCATS.
When the system detects a surge, it automatically gives people more frequent or longer green-walk signals, reducing wait times and stopping dangerous crowd spill-over onto the road.
“It’s a clear example of how new tools can help keep communities safe, and why we’re exploring more locations where this approach can make a real difference,” said Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison.
