Let’s face it. Artificial intelligence isn’t as cool or helpful as we thought it was. Instead, AI has been more of a nuisance. At first, we were afraid of losing jobs. But how many of you add “Reddit” to the end of an internet search today? Or have gotten drive-thru orders wrong from both humans and machines? Or are even worse at video games? Boston seems to have cracked the AI code, though, as the city’s traffic congestion and emissions have dropped since the learning machine was incorporated.
Using AI software, the city was able to analyze traffic patterns and traffic light data from hundreds of intersections within Boston city limits. Engineers at the Boston Transportation Department then implement the software’s recommendations to optimize traffic flow.
According to the mayor’s office, traffic signals have been tweaked at four intersections in the Fenway-Kenmore, Mission Hill and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods. In a statement, city officials noted that stop-and-go traffic has decreased by 50% at two key intersections: Huntington Avenue & Opera Place and Armory Street & Green Street. The former is a busy corridor that carries car and train traffic and passes through a university; the latter is further out but close to parks, shops and a transit center.
NBC News
Although the area is home to renowned researchers such as MIT and Boston Dynamics, this AI traffic project is a partnership with Google Research’s Green Light project. Using AI and Google Maps, the system measures everything that could affect a city’s traffic flow, including waiting times at traffic lights, vehicle speeds, stop-and-go patterns, etc.
The research data is then used to create an optimization plan to improve traffic flow while reducing emissions. Globally, Green Light city partners have seen a 10% reduction in emissions due to reduced waiting and idling times.
Google
Because Green Light is still in the research phase, the service is free for partner cities and does not require any additional software or equipment. Although it is a globally available transportation program, only two U.S. cities are currently research partners: Boston and Seattle.
In Boston, the effects are already being felt – in a positive sense.
“It gives our traffic engineers important data to adjust a signal in a split-second manner, which can help reduce congestion along a corridor,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Boston’s Department of Highways. (Yes, that’s a real job title at the Boston Department of Public Works and Transportation.)
The city hopes that the initial benefits will continue to grow as more traffic data is collected and the program expands.
“It requires a lot of customization and real human analysis,” said Stacey Thompson, executive director of the Liveable Streets Alliance. “But just having that starting point helps us be much more effective.”
