Can AI create safe cities or pose more danger along the way?

Artificial Intelligence or AI is the new watchword of the world. Because AI is developing so quickly, there are already a huge variety of possible applications in urban settings. While once AI was a futuristic term in the imagination of people, it is now as easily accessible as a click on the computer. With the unveiling of Chat GPT, the true vastness of the possibilities and dangers of this technology is dawning on people. It is quickly revolutionizing the way we use technology. And we are all adapting to the changes. But it is now up to the leaders of our cities to choose whether they want to be merely reactive or become proactive and use AI for better governance

Imagine you have to reach a destination and you don’t know the way very well. GPS is indispensable to everyday commuters anyway. You obviously take the fastest route. But midway, you realize that the road is almost non-existent because of potholes or it’s late at night and there are no streetlights on the road making it unsafe. Its an all too familiar situation that residents of the city have faced at one point or another. Something similar happened with Dipen Babariya after which he came up with the idea of a start-up to solve this problem.

Statista lists potholes as one of the main accident-causing factors in 2020, with over 3.5 thousand accidents. Road Metrics is a Bengaluru-based start-up that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify and fix potholes. First, they planned on using sensor-based technology to track the potholes in roads but found an even smarter solution with a computer vision-based software which records the images of roads and the data is then analysed by AI for damages. They’ve covered over 50,000 kilometres of city roads to create a map much like Google, except their map tells you the safest and best roads to travel to your destination. They shifted from B2C model to B2B model, partnering with municipalities to bring attention to the damaged roads and mend them. They have mapped the entire city of Bengaluru and Mumbai. It also won the award for Best AI start-up for Smart Cities by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

AI has proven that its application has tremendous scope in making cities safe for their residents. Start-ups have jumped on the AI bandwagon and are coming up with innovative business ideas. But it is now up to local governments to carry the baton forward. Local governments can set up the necessary frameworks for inclusive and sustainable development in order to fully realise AI’s potential for cities.

Disaster Management and Emergency Response

AI has a significant place in disaster management and emergency response. In order to deliver real-time insights and support decision-making during emergencies, it can analyse data from a variety of sources, including social media, sensors, and emergency calls. AI may be used to efficiently identify damaged locations, distribute resources, and coordinate emergency responses.

With accelerating climate change, natural disasters are only getting worse. AI can become an integral part of our mitigation strategies and ensure that they limit the harm. The launch of the ASNARO-2 satellite in 2018 has seen it play a significant part in disaster avoidance. When used with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, the satellite’s inbuilt radar aids in creating photographs of the earth. In terms of disaster prevention and mitigation, SAR technology shows potential. Typhoons, torrential rain, and other climate-related natural disasters can all be anticipated by such satellites. Municipal and district authorities may use weather data as well as information on rising water levels in rivers and the risk of landslides when issuing evacuation orders and issuing advisories. Since AI systems are good at forecasting local floods during severe weather events, these could be utilised to update local flood risk estimates to help people.

Intelligent Traffic Management

Indian cities are notorious for their traffic congestion, which poses significant safety risks. However, AI is stepping in to revolutionize traffic management. By analyzing real-time data from cameras, sensors, and connected vehicles, AI algorithms can optimize traffic flow, identify congested areas, and dynamically adjust traffic signals. This intelligent traffic management not only reduces congestion but also minimizes the chances of accidents, making roads safer for commuters. Additionally, AI-powered systems can provide real-time alerts about road hazards, traffic incidents, and alternative routes, ensuring a smoother and safer travel experience.

Predictive Analytics for Crime Prevention

AI’s ability to analyse vast amounts of data is instrumental in predicting and preventing crime. Indian cities are utilizing AI algorithms to analyse historical crime data and social media feeds to identify potential hotspots and predict crime patterns. Law enforcement agencies can allocate resources proactively, deploy patrols strategically, and focus efforts on areas with a higher likelihood of criminal activities. This data-driven approach helps in deterring crime, enhancing public safety, and fostering a sense of security among residents.

AI can also help address India’s slow judicial system by analyzing and categorizing cases, providing root-cause analysis, and creating a feedback loop between the judiciary and legislature. A detailed analysis of AI’s potential for use in judiciary was done by Joseph Sebastian for an article published in Mint newspaper.

AI and its potential for misuse

AI’s potential for misuse is vast, especially with regards to privacy, cybersecurity, ethical considerations, etc. This is because AI technology is neutral. It acquires the biases and judgements embedded in the dataset we feed to it. In some cases such systems, when used for detecting and preventing crime, could become a concern as the system will use past history to make assessments. The subject of AI is vast and complex and requires more detailed treatment. For now, suffice it to say that we need to tread cautiously around this technology.

AI has proven that its application has tremendous scope in making cities safe for their residents. Start-ups have jumped on the AI bandwagon and are coming up with innovative business ideas. But it is now up to local governments to carry the baton forward. Local governments can set up the necessary frameworks for inclusive and sustainable development in order to fully realise AI’s potential for cities