AI and Innovations Changing Landscape of Urban Mobility

 In India’s urban centers, from major cities like Delhi and Mumbai to emerging smart cities, there is a transformative push towards AI-driven solutions that are changing how people move. Sid Jalan spoke to some of the exhibitors at Trafficinfratech Expo 2024.

Capturing a variety of perspectives and solutions to these challenges, the Trafficinfratech Expo offered an in-depth look into the latest breakthroughs in urban mobility and traffic management. The comprehensive showcase encapsulated the rapid technological shifts and diverse landscape of urban infrastructure, spotlighting everything from real-time traffic monitoring and adaptive control systems to AI-powered traffic solutions.

Latest Technologies in Urban Mobility

“We are launching our second generation of traffic management and traffic monitoring platform…one single platform, it can be used for highway monitoring or expressway monitoring, for generating data insights, giving predictions,” said Avinash Trivedi: VP, Business Development, Videonetics.

The approach to traffic management and urban mobility is being revolutionized by sophisticated tools such as GNSS and VIDS. Vishal Darad, Head of Sales at Tecsidel spoke about how GNSS provides highly accurate, real-time geolocation data that helps authorities monitor traffic flows and detect incidents as they occur. VIDS, on the other hand, enables rapid response to traffic disruptions, helping prevent small incidents from escalating into major congestion. “This is 100% software-based topology which we are enhancing from our side for customer help.”

 

Through VIDS and GNSS, cities can maintain a connected network of roadways that respond to real-time conditions. This capability is crucial for urban centers where traffic congestion is an ongoing issue. The immediate incident detection enabled by VIDS helps to alleviate congestion, improve traffic flow, and ensure safer roads for commuters.  Implementation of Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system that is poised to replace traditional toll booths   allows vehicles to pass through toll points without stopping.

Increasing Role of AI

“The great thing about AI is there is something new every month and it is only constrained by demand and imagination,” stated Mike Lewis, Marcom Head, Norden.  By integrating AI directly into traffic monitoring and surveillance systems, urban mobility managers can process vast amounts of data from cameras and sensors, monitor traffic flow, detect incidents, and even identify license plates for better enforcement.

Kunal Jagtap, CEO of Wizpro Consultech, explained how AI-powered cameras enable these enhanced capabilities. “Along with detection, we also have an inbuilt AI engine built in our cameras. It is a plug-and-play camera…using this, we built AI search engines where we can do a lot of analysis.” This capability is invaluable in identifying high-risk areas and patterns of congestion, empowering traffic managers to proactively address potential issues and improve road safety. In addition to surveillance, AI is used in vehicle classification, Automatic Number Plate Recognition, and predictive analytics, which facilitate traffic enforcement and enhance efficiency. Saurabh Khanna of GreenTech ITS described the use of AI.

“We use AI for vehicle classifications, number plates, vehicles coming from the wrong direction, incident direction, for visibility calculations, for vehicles standing on the highways for a longer duration…for all purposes, for theft detection and intrusion detection as well.”

AI is also making a significant impact on urban parking management. Ashray Bhalwal, Head of Business and Operations at ValetEZ, shared how AI predicts parking availability: “We are using AI to predict parking availability and occupancy trends. We have tested our trained AI…and it was around 95% accurate.” By reducing the time drivers spend searching for parking, AI technology alleviates congestion, cuts down on emissions from idling vehicles, and improves overall traffic flow in busy urban centers.”

Mike Lewis highlighted the significant advancements in AI-driven data analytics to help authorities make informed traffic-related decisions. “With the information that those cameras give, the software then can understand and alert one of incidents like illegal U-turn, red light jumping etc, but in addition to that, it is not just about transport, it is about health and safety”.  Norden is working towards supporting cities not just by reacting to traffic incidents, but actively anticipating them.

Emerging Trends in Urban Mobility

“I see big data science, AI, as a major game changer, it is going to play a major role going forward. You are going to reduce manpower and have exact requirements fulfilled using these systems,” added Saurabh Khanna.

India’s urban mobility transformation has spurred new trends in predictive analytics and proactive infrastructure planning. By leveraging machine learning and real-time data, transportation managers can foresee potential traffic disruptions and respond preemptively. Ranjana Kamiya, Manager, Commercial & Operations at Logix ITS, discussed how predictive analytics supports traffic management. “With the help of AI and machine learning algorithms, we can predict patterns and provide automated real-time recommendations…the authorities can be made aware when to take what action at the right time.” This anticipatory approach is essential for Indian cities with complex, ever-changing traffic patterns.

Videonetics, harnesses historical data to identify future congestion points, enabling proactive solutions. Avinash Trivedi noted, “With true AI, if I have my past data, I can just turn the data around and give a prediction.” By leveraging historical data, city planners can make informed decisions about infrastructure projects, such as where to add additional lanes, install new signals, or build alternative routes, to alleviate future congestion.

The “Make in India” initiative is also fostering a wave of locally produced solutions in urban mobility. SkyToll, for instance, is setting up a domestic manufacturing base to produce innovative solutions tailored to Indian conditions. Dushyant Deshpande, Director at SkyToll, said, “We want to have a very robust plan for contribution to Make in India. We are setting up a manufacturing base here in India for India and the outside world.”

Michael Bredehorn, Business Development representative at Bernard Gruppe, talked about the potential AI has for smart city planning, “If we stop thinking that the human is the best designer of a city, it enables us to focus more on relevant tasks, because if we outsource our planning to expert systems like AI…we can use more data sources such as from public transport to other information like sensor data, weather development, changes of landscape and so on, to build the city of tomorrow…in a much more efficient way.”

The two-wheeler market in India presents additional opportunities, as solutions specifically for motorbikes and scooters remain relatively untapped. ValetEZ has identified this gap and is working on products aimed at India’s unique two-wheeler needs. “The two-wheeler market is still untapped in terms of tech integration. We are working on automation solutions to better serve this segment,” shared Ashray Bhalwal, pointing to the potential for significant advancements in a sector deeply intertwined with Indian urban mobility.

Public-Private Partnerships as Key Enablers

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are a powerful tool for scaling urban mobility solutions, particularly in a country as large and diverse as India. By leveraging the expertise and resources of both sectors, PPPs enable cities to deploy advanced technologies without bearing the full financial burden. PPP is always an advanced and nice platform for the concessionaires and the public…this is directly or indirectly integrated with the money which is collected from the customer side, people side, and civilian side, said Vishal Darad.  According to Michael Bredehorn, there needs to be a clear knowledge hub shared between the private and public sector, which will become the basis of good decision making.

One example of a successful PPP is Logix ITS’s collaboration with the Kolkata Police. Ranjana Kamiya, shared details of this partnership, which resulted in a 39% reduction in traffic congestion on the Mahamaya flyover. “Our system integrates cameras into the central control room, providing live feeds that help traffic authorities monitor and manage congestion in real-time,” she said. The combination of private-sector technology and public-sector oversight creates a system that is both efficient and accountable.

PPPs also offer a platform for transferring technical expertise between the public and private sectors. Michael Bredehorn emphasized the importance of collaboration in innovation projects, saying, “Public-private initiatives accelerate development by allowing the sharing of insights and expertise. These projects not only produce results but also foster a mutual exchange of knowledge that benefits everyone.”

Addressing Challenges in Urban Mobility Technology

Despite significant progress, the adoption of AI and other advanced technologies in urban mobility is not without challenges. Infrastructure limitations, high costs, and resistance to new technologies are some of the primary obstacles to widespread implementation.

 Ashray Bhalwal felt that the biggest challenge is the lack of organised parking infrastructure. If there are thousands of parking (lots), only ten percent of them are organized in India. “Implementing organized parking solutions requires regulatory support, without which large-scale adoption of AI-driven parking management remains a challenge.”

Kamiya noted that infrastructure disparities between urban and rural areas pose a substantial barrier. “Delhi, for example, has relatively advanced infrastructure, but in rural and semi-urban areas, the lack of foundational technology limits what we can achieve.”  As the government continues to invest in national infrastructure, bridging these gaps will be essential to implementing cohesive mobility solutions across India.

Maintaining and upgrading these systems over time presents another set of challenges. “People are often accustomed to legacy systems, and introducing a new technology means that personnel need training and a mindset shift,” observed Michael Bredehorn. The long-term success of urban mobility solutions depends not only on technical innovation but also on the willingness of city employees and residents to adapt and embrace change.

Interoperability and data sharing between state and central governments also complicate urban mobility management. Kunal Jagtap described this issue: “The state government and the central government work differently…till the time they do not have a common platform, we will have situations where if the vehicle was detected in Himachal and it is in Maharashtra today, it will not be flagged.” Creating a unified data platform could enable efficient cross-regional traffic management and enforcement, which is critical for a cohesive national mobility strategy.

Companies and governments working to address these challenges can focus on creating adaptable technology solutions that consider varying infrastructure levels across urban and rural regions, such as modular and scalable AI solutions that bridge the infrastructure gap. While companies can advocate for regulatory incentives that encourage investment in organized parking solutions, establishing interoperable data-sharing platforms is essential. Companies can collaborate with state and central authorities to develop unified systems that enable real-time data exchange across jurisdictions.

Future Outlook

“We are looking for good product development, and we will be entering the market next year with some advanced technologies for vehicle separators,” said Mukul Shetty, Products Manager, Kent ITS (I) Pvt Ltd.

India’s journey toward smarter urban mobility is just beginning, but the foundation is being laid by companies and public institutions that are committed to harnessing AI, GNSS, machine learning, and data analytics. AI-driven technologies, backed by strong public-private partnerships, are enabling a shift towards efficient, responsive, and environmentally conscious mobility solutions.