The i-Hub Data Center at IIIT Hyderabad is spearheading advancements in traffic management, road safety, and urban infrastructure through scalable AI-driven solutions. These innovations include Bodhyaan, intelligent platforms tailored for two-wheelers, and the use of drones to evaluate mobility systems.
Dr Ravi Kiran Sarvadevabhatla, an Associate Professor at IIIT Hyderabad (IIITH), recently discussed several innovative mobility-focused solutions developed at the institute to tackle challenges in the Indian transportation sector.
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly prominent across various industries such as education, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation. At IIITH, the i-Hub Data Center has been a hub for interdisciplinary research addressing mobility issues. The center has developed solutions ranging from detecting traffic violations to automating infrastructure assessments with the aid of drones.
One of the institute’s key projects uses the research vehicle Bodhyaan, equipped with sensors, to capture traffic data. This mobile system helps in detecting and categorizing traffic violations like helmet-less riding or wrong-side driving, facilitating the generation of police challans. To combat wrong-side driving by two-wheelers, IIITH has implemented dashcams in city cabs and buses to collect and process traffic footage for violation detection.
Further enhancing two-wheeler safety, IIITH developed a platform similar to Bodhyaan that includes technologies to detect falls, assist riders, and develop smart helmets. This platform also assesses riding behaviour and produces riding scores, potentially influencing insurance premiums or dealer discounts for safe driving.
In collaboration with multiple research centres at IIITH, another project focuses on using drones equipped with computer vision to automate building safety assessments, a task traditionally performed manually. This innovation significantly cuts down the time required for safety evaluations.
Additionally, IIITH has explored environmental monitoring, using a two-wheeler mounted with a GoPro camera and GPS to assess tree density in certain areas and map city potholes, with the findings visualized on a dashboard for better urban management.
The institute also initiated the Intelligent Solutions for Road Safety Through Technology and Engineering (i-RASTE) project, first in Nagpur and later in Telangana, to reduce road accidents. This initiative involves installing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in city buses to monitor driver behaviour and road conditions, combined with road safety training for drivers, which has effectively reduced accidents and safety alerts.
The i-Hub Data Center, part of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, focuses on creating scalable solutions for mobility issues, ensuring that research progresses from prototypes to practical, real-world applications.
