Peachtree Corners and ConnVAS showcase smart crosswalk technology for road safety
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Peachtree Corners, one of the nation’s first smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G, have announced a collaboration for a pilot project with ConnVAS, an innovator in advanced traffic and pedestrian safety solutions. The pilot launched outside of Pinckneyville Middle School, addresses the safety challenges of busy crosswalks by testing how real-time AI-driven detection and alerts can reduce accidents and create a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers by activating alerts, even when pedestrians do not activate crosswalk signals.
The pilot utilises ConnVAS’s MAGIC AI-driven edge computing system, which incorporates cameras mounted on Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) poles to monitor pedestrian and vehicle movement, V2X transceivers for real-time vehicle-to-infrastructure communication and an integrated audio-visual alert system. When the system detects a pedestrian or cyclist using the crosswalk, crossing outside of the crosswalk lines or a vehicle approaching the crosswalk, each of its technologies work together in real time to immediately activate alerts to both the users of the crosswalk and incoming drivers, even if the Voice Respond Unit (VRU) did not activate the crosswalk alert. The system continually collects anonymous data such as felonies, near-misses and pedestrian and vehicle counts for ongoing analysis of crosswalk usage and traffic.
“Peachtree Corners is dedicated to implementing technology solutions that address real-world safety challenges for our residents,” said Brandon Branham, the executive director of Curiosity Lab. “The ConnVAS system provides a solution to common safety hazards such as pedestrians crossing outside of designated areas, failure to press crosswalk buttons and drivers failing to detect pedestrians or cyclists in time. By integrating advanced AI detection and real-time alerts, this ConnVAS pilot enhances safety in an area where our residents need it the most today, while also generating actionable insights that can guide our development of smarter, more responsive infrastructure in the future. We are excited to be continuing the pilot program to continue to gain insights in how we can improve our city for our residents.”
Preliminary results from the pilot program that were extracted from a midweek 72-hour period, show distinct patterns that can better help City Managers ensure roadways are safe and efficient for VRUs and drivers. At the pilot location, ConnVAS reported over 220 pedestrian crossings for more than 70 crossing events, with only three false alarms. The system consistently activated flashing beacons and audio alerts in real time, ensuring those crossing the road and oncoming drivers were promptly warned. Additionally, traffic data collected by the system, including felonies, near-misses and counts of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, is being used to evaluate the technology’s impact and will aid City officials to make informed decisions about improving road safety and urban planning in specific locations.
“The pilot we are conducting at Peachtree Corners has been instrumental in refining our technology and demonstrating its impact in a real-world environment,” said Danny Frydman, the founder and CEO of ConnVAS. “Through continuous testing and data analysis, we’ve been able to improve the accuracy of our system’s AI detection, ensuring faster and more reliable activation of alerts. This has directly enhanced the safety of the area by addressing critical challenges including missed warnings for pedestrians and cyclists or delayed driver awareness. The insights gained from this pilot are helping us evolve the software to adapt to complex traffic scenarios and create safer, smarter intersections everywhere. We hope to scale this solution throughout the city as the pilot and technology continues to develop.”
The ConnVAS pilot in Peachtree Corners is continuing to evaluate various features including autonomous operation features that eliminates the need for manual button presses and reduce false alarms, cyclist-friendly designs and V2X connectivity to communicate with connected vehicles to alert drivers of crosswalk activity. Additional capabilities such as dynamic illumination based on pedestrian location are being explored to further enhance VRU safety.
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