Smart cities usually have access to video surveillance footage and data which is a vital resource in today’s world. Municipal decision makers utilize traffic surveillance infrastructure along with evidentiary resources supplied by local businesses to guide and aid in city planning. More often that not, footage from these surveillance resources is not utilized as best it can due to human limitations and the magnitude of the data. Video analytics serves as a powerful tool and allows metropolitan planners to explore the true potential of such information when looking at solutions to optimize the city’s traffic flow. Municipalities can efficiently improve traffic and address certain challenges withing the city such as responding to real-time congestion or recognizing traffic trends through the use of video analytics software.
Correcting Bottlenecks
Large and small capacity cities experience traffic bottlenecks which can be frustrating. A municipality that is known for high levels of traffic congestion can discourage prospective and current citizens, businesses, and visitors. It is crucial for metropolitan planners to identify the frequency of pedestrian paths, roadways, or bike lanes experiencing bottlenecking as this will assist in finding ways to improve or repair the problem, creating efficient and safe city navigation.
Metropolitan planners and law enforcement agencies can strategically identify hotspots for pedestrian traffic violations through the use of video analytics. Understanding the behavior of pedestrians determines the infrastructural changes required to efficiently optimize the safe flow of traffic. An efficient way for metropolitan planners to successfully achieve this is by utilizing existing video footage and converting it into quantifiable, searchable, and actionable data. Video content analytics software is powered by Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning which can be applied to existing video surveillance systems. This software can classify and identify objects such as vehicle types, differentiate between women, men, kids, and animals. This technology allows municipal planners to efficiently understand bottlenecks, identify their causes, and how to improve the situation as well as reduce future traffic jams.
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Video intelligence software also accumulates video data to reveal trends and benchmark traffic norms. Operators can proactively identify traffic violations, traffic formation, and unexpected congestion by constructing rule-based alerts in accordance to those benchmarks, initiating notifications when predefined conditions or thresholds are detected. Real-time notifications assist municipal agencies and law enforcement to deploy the necessary personnel or signage to reduce the traffic build up in the event of a bottleneck forming.
Video analytics offers critical support to the high-level logistics as well as high value for specified logistical needs which keeps a city operating smoothly. Video analytics also offers support in preventing congestion, public safety, and preventing accidents, whilst enabling efficient operations based on flowing traffic. Commuters may experience complications with navigation, public transport may experience difficulty operating timeously, and city maintenance vehicles may be delayed in their field of service due to severe traffic. Traffic flow being a major contributor to those scenarios prove that data obtained through video analytics can have a positive impact on ensuring an efficient city.
Observing and Reducing Traffic Offenses
Typical traffic offenses such as illegal U-turns and speeding can indicate issues in efficient functionality of a city. These factors are considered safety hazards which require the attention of municipal planners and law enforcement to eliminate offenses by improving and upgrading infrastructure. Smart cities using comprehensive surveillance systems accompanied by video analytics software enables municipal planners to take further action in reducing traffic offenses.
Video analytics software allows for rule-based alerts which aid officials in effectively tracking violations. Rule-based alerts using video management software can be configured to any individual driving the wrong way down a one-way street or making an illegal U-turn. The main benefits of these alerts is the ability to react and respond to the situation efficiently, as well as identifying behavioral patterns through video footage which can be addressed.
Municipal planners can understand how pedestrians and commuters navigate public spaces which aids in city expansion proposals and planning renovations. Video intelligence drives decisions based on rerouting traffic when considering high traffic areas. Trends can also be identified as time progresses, motivating municipalities to make informed improvements of signage and roadways as a long-term vision. Data informed planning helps municipal planners understand the requirements of ensuring a city operates effectively by implementing measures that address specific challenges.
Motivating a Positive Guest Experience
Municipal agencies and planners can utilize video analytics to make informed decisions regarding public health and safety, traffic management, and the nature of life for residents, businesses, and visitors. Video surveillance footage paired with video analytics software empowers municipality authorities to study activity from various locations and sources, guiding them to plan infrastructural changes and improvements in accordance with the data reviewed. Identifying high traffic areas during peak seasons requires effective solutions and contingency plans, promoting a favorable visitor experience, encouraging repeat visits.
Video analytics software is a key tool to include in surveillance systems within municipalities aiming to create an efficient and safe city. Metropolitan planners that utilize video analysis are at a greater advantage and more equipped to implement insightful improvements based on data from incident specific situations and the data study from long term trends.