Archetype AI Aids Washington City in Real-Time Pedestrian Safety Monitoring

Key Takeaways

Bellevue, WA, aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries by 2030 using AI technology.
The city is piloting an AI system, “Newton,” developed by Archetype AI, to enhance pedestrian safety.
Other cities, including Sarasota and Albuquerque, are also leveraging AI to improve traffic safety measures.

Innovative Approaches to Pedestrian Safety

In 2015, Bellevue, Washington, joined the Vision Zero program with the ambition of eradicating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. A key component of this initiative is the integration of artificial intelligence to enhance safety measures. Collaborating with Archetype AI, a company based in Palo Alto, the city has introduced a pilot program to monitor pedestrian safety and urban mobility in real time. Named “Newton,” this AI tool can adapt traffic signals and offers immediate incident detection and response.

Unlike conventional language-learning AI models, Newton is trained on sensor data, which allows it to interpret continuous real-time camera feeds effectively. According to Archetype AI’s Co-Founder and COO, Brandon Barbello, this capability is crucial given that 53% of pedestrian fatalities and severe injuries in Bellevue stem from drivers not yielding to pedestrians. The technology aims to minimize risks by employing video analytics to adjust traffic signals. For instance, if the system detects pedestrians who require additional time to cross or a high volume of people in the crosswalk, it can extend the “Walk” signal.

The pilot program, initiated last month in two busy neighborhoods, is backed by a $1.43 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and is set to conclude in August. Bellevue is not alone in this endeavor; cities like Sarasota, Florida, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, are also adopting AI technology to assess traffic incidents and enhance pedestrian awareness.

Over the last two decades, many cities have invested in sensor technology, but the potential of AI to analyze and utilize this data has yet to be fully realized. Barbello emphasizes the need for comprehensive visibility across intersections to improve traffic management. He notes, “People can’t be everywhere all the time. These sensors are.”

A recent survey conducted by Granicus involving 1,400 public employees indicated that 40% are currently using AI technologies. Among those surveyed, 80% anticipate that AI will assist in managing repetitive tasks, while 75% believe it will save time.

Barbello, who has a background in AI products at Google, envisions AI as a resource for preserving institutional knowledge within government. As seasoned experts retire, there is a need for mechanisms to retain their expertise and facilitate knowledge transfer to the next generation. He asserts, “It isn’t about the AI becoming the expert or replacing the expert. It’s about the AI as a repository of knowledge that can be passed down era after era.” The continuously evolving nature of AI also offers additional advantages over traditional systems.

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