South Australian drivers to be monitored by AI cameras

Drivers in one state will be monitored by artificial intelligence cameras.

Major Adelaide roads will get artificial intelligence cameras aimed at cutting traffic and boosting economic activity.

The South Australian government believes every 5000 motorists stuck in traffic for 20 minutes costs the state economy $33,000.

The trial of four cameras will cost $350,000. Governments and councils around the country are using AI cameras in various ways; NSW councils use the feed from dashcams to identify road defects, and the NSW state government uses AI in Sydney’s southwest to identify koalas and alert drivers.

The cameras will analyse vehicle flows and modify traffic signals. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

South Australian Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the new trial would involve the cameras analysing congestion and tweaking traffic light cycles.

“They’ll save of course time and money in terms of infrastructure, time and money in terms of being stuck in traffic, freight getting to where it’s needed to go faster and more efficiently, public transport moving more quickly,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“The traffic management system using artificial intelligence can cost as little as $8000 at an intersection if the infrastructure is already in place without having to put in new infrastructure,” he said.

The government will look to add more cameras if the trial is successful.
Mr Koutsantonis described the technology as a “powerful piece of equipment to improve our traffic network”.

One camera will go on the highway at the northern suburb of Penfield, and another will be placed at the major bus station, Paradise Interchange, in the northeast suburbs. Another two will go on the highway at the far-southern suburb of Old Noarlunga.