Researchers at the Tandon School of Engineering will develop an artificial intelligence-powered simulation system that can design a virtual model of downtown Brooklyn to improve emergency responses at accident scenes and reduce traffic disruptions.
Tandon professor Kaan Ozbay and associate researcher Zilin Bian led the project — called Nano Digital Twin — after receiving a grant from Nvidia, a computer manufacturing company and one of the most valuable companies worldwide. The team of researchers from C2SMARTER, Tandon’s transportation research center that receives federal funding, created NanoDT to help emergency responders use three-dimensional images of traffic flow to assess car accidents and allocate medical services as efficiently as possible.
“Urban modeling systems typically rely on static data or simplified and off-line traffic simulations, which often lack real-time adaptability and high-fidelity visualization,” Ozbay said in a statement to WSN. “NanoDT can identify risks experienced by normal drivers impacted by the accident scene.”
The simulation system utilizes existing urban infrastructure tools, such as traffic cameras, reported conditions and data from Google Maps’ 3D Mode, to create a detailed model of the area. NanoDT also enables emergency responders to find the most efficient routes to reach accident sites by avoiding traffic delays and predicting potential hazards, including merging conflicts, sudden stops, lane changes and braking patterns.
The technology can also help accident victims receive immediate medical attention even before Emergency Medical Vehicles arrive at the site. Ozabay added that the 3D models can test various emergency response situations so that ambulances and doctors can efficiently park in all nearby open spaces, such as parking lots and side streets, instead of blocking traffic during emergency situations.
“Since traffic congestion can sometimes severely delay EMVs’ movement, guiding of injured individuals or bystanders to the closest urgent care facilities can be life-saving,” Ozbay said. “NanoDT reduces wait times, alleviates hospital overcrowding and ultimately saves lives in high-impact urban emergencies.”
Ozbay said that implementing NanoDT — which C2SMARTER has used for traffic management initiatives in Brooklyn, Harlem and near MetLife Stadium — has been challenging because it had to be compatible with all of the stakeholders in New York City’s complex emergency response system, which include the New York City Fire Department, the New York City Police Department and the Department of Transportation. He added that researchers aim to implement the technology in other major cities with existing smart city infrastructures.
“In urban emergencies, where every second counts, NanoDT’s real-time 3D visualization will transform traditional response methods into dynamic, data-driven decisions,” Ozbay said in the press release. “Ultimately, we want to help save more lives in critical situations.”
Contact Vaishnavi Girish at [email protected].
