Maurizio Rinaldi, CEO, Sonda USA, explores how artificial intelligence can help improve public services, particularly for unserved, underserved, and disadvantaged communities.
There’s a good chance you have heard about the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. This cutting-edge technology, which has gained significant traction in recent years, promises to revolutionise every aspect of our lives, from the apps on our phones to the tasks we perform at work. But did you know AI can also be a game-changer for smart cities, significantly improving public safety, transportation, and affordable housing?
Before explaining how, we must understand what we refer to when discussing a smart city. When we hear this concept, our minds often gravitate toward the remarkable ways technology and innovation shape urban environments, making them more efficient and connected. While this is undeniably true, the vision of a smart city goes beyond just technological advancements. It encompasses a holistic approach to enhance the wellbeing of the people who call these cities home.
Even though smart city initiatives will differ as urban centres have specific needs, there are numerous opportunities on the horizon, including advanced digital infrastructure, efficient energy management, intelligent mobility, e-government and citizen participation, sensors and big data, planned urban development, security and resilience, and education and training.
Machine and deep learning
How does AI play into this? By integrating AI techniques and technologies like machine learning and deep learning, authorities can significantly enhance their data analysis and decision-making capabilities. This not only empowers them to make more informed choices and take proactive measures but also holds the potential to uplift communities, particularly those that are unserved, underserved, and disadvantaged.
For AI to live up to expectations, it’s crucial that all stakeholders involved in its deployment, including local authorities, businesses, community leaders, and citizens, actively participate and contribute. This collaborative approach ensures that AI is leveraged to its full potential, improving the lives of every citizen.
Here are three areas in which AI can be a powerful tool to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable society.
- Public safety
Local governments have an infinite number of issues to address with limited resources. This means authorities must choose which areas require investment. Public safety, a top priority for any community, can benefit greatly from AI. While it’s impossible to have police officers in every corner of the city, video cameras, data analytics, and AI can make it easier to monitor streets without human presence. These tools can predict crime patterns and anticipate when and where incidents are more likely, allowing officials to allocate police resources more effectively to the neighbourhoods with greater needs.
A report from McKinsey Global Institute showed that crimes including assault, robbery, and burglary can be reduced by 30-40 per cent, “with predictive policing, real-time crime mapping, and home security systems making the biggest difference.”
- Transportation
According to the Pew Research Centre, there there are 42.5 million Americans with disabilities. This group includes people with hearing, vision, cognitive, walking, self-care, or independent living difficulties. Video analytics powered by artificial intelligence can be utilised to identify individuals with special needs approaching public transportation. By analysing camera footage, AI algorithms can detect mobility aids like canes, wheelchairs, or guide dogs. Additionally, it can recognise patterns of movement that might indicate visual or cognitive impairments.
- Road maintenance
Integrating AI in pavement assessment and management revolutionises how we build and maintain our road infrastructure. It enables more efficient, data-driven decision-making and contributes to the construction industry’s sustainability goals. By leveraging vehicle-mounted cameras and AI software for road condition monitoring, transportation agencies can make data-driven decisions, optimise maintenance efforts, and ensure safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective road infrastructure management while adhering to Pavement Condition Index (PCI) regulations.
There are at least three tangible benefits of incorporating AI into road maintenance:
- Enhanced road safety: identifying and addressing potholes, cracks, drainage damage, and other hazards reduces the risk of vehicle damage and accidents
- Automated and objective assessment: AI-powered software can analyse visual data objectively
- Efficient and continuous monitoring: vehicles equipped with cameras can cover large areas quickly.
The future of our cities, with their potential to be more inclusive and sustainable, lies in the hands of a collective effort. It’s not a task for a single entity but a shared responsibility that calls for the participation of local authorities, businesses, community leaders, and citizens. Together, we can harness the power of AI and build a future that leaves no one behind and helps protect the environment for generations to come.
---
Autor(en)/Author(s): Maurizio Rinaldi
Quelle/Source: Smart Cities World, 98.07.2024
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
