An integral part of Ilex’s day-to-day life is keeping up with industry news, identifying trending new tech and learning about which new technologies are on the horizon to create a better world. Read this case study to find out how technology is being used to create safer, more accessible streets across the globe.
All around the world, countries and their communities are looking to make streets smarter, safer and more connected for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. According to World Bank Group, more than 55% of the world’s population live in a city meaning measures must be put in place to provide the safe environment that an expanding population needs.
On average, approximately 1.3 million people die each year as a result of global road traffic accidents, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO also reported that more than half of these fatalities are among the most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
So, with more and more people moving to the city, how do we keep our streets safe for those on foot and on wheels?
Numina thinks they may have solution. It is a computer vision sensor solution purpose-built for streets and designed from day one to provide intelligence without surveillance. This means they’re enabling communities to measure all kinds of curb-level activity, while keeping identities anonymous.
They have two main target customers, those who manage streets such as real estate developers, city managers and universities and those who build apps such as mobility providers, software developers and researchers.
Its mission is to create more walkable, bikeable, connected streets that create more vibrant, prosperous, and resilient places. They’re working to help cities improve their communities faster and more equitably, with a data-driven approach.
How Do They Do It?
While existing traffic management is car focused and largely expensive, the output rarely has a positive impact on accessibility and safety. Numina has created a plug-and-play solution to measure activity in streets and harness data to make places safer, more efficient and more enjoyable.
It measures what, where, when, and how things move in streets and open space. This data is helping city planners, mobility companies, and other stakeholders design better systems for people, bicycles, wheelchairs, strollers and more.
The data captured through a standalone sensor transmits over cell phone network straight to the desktop. This means the majority of users will never touch hardware and access their data purely online, with minute-by-minute updates and the ability to export ready-to-use reports.
There is also the Numina Application Programming Interface (API) for developers, which is available for applications in mobility, real estate, automotive, insurance, and more.
Numina In Action
- Pedestrian Safety – The City of Jacksonville used Numina to baseline pedestrian usage, quantify crash rates, and identify where to locate new mid-block crossings.
- Real Estate - Downtown Brooklyn Partnership used Numina to measure the impact of scaffolding and construction on local businesses.
- Parks Utilisation - The San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department uses Numina in Golden Gate Park to compare visitorship, traffic, and events attendance between open traffic and car-free days.
The Future of Our Streets
In a world that has become so digital, it is great to see tech being used for good. Numina’s technology is contributing to safer streets in 25 cities globally with plans to expand even further.
Numina plans to continue its seamless data tracking of curb-level activity while enabling full digital control over keeping identities anonymised.
As they progress with their digestible reports of the streets around us, we will see more walkable, bikeable, equitable communities.
If you’d like to find out more about how Numina are using tech to create safer communities, visit their website: https://bit.ly/3bFfB6A
