4 cities proving the transformative value of data and IT

Raleigh tackles high-impact issues with IT

The City of Raleigh, N.C., has launched multiple smart city initiatives involving several departments, says CIO Mark Wittenburg.

In one, IT worked with the transportation department to pilot computer vision at intersections, with the goal of reducing traffic fatalities to zero. The city is using deep learning computer vision models on traffic camera feeds to better understand turning movements, vehicle trajectories, and overall traffic behavior.

“These vehicle trajectories are transformed into GIS features, which are visualized in the GIS system in real-time, allowing geographical analysis in conjunction with other enterprise GIS data,” Wittenburg says. Turning movement counts are essential for traffic analysis activities, including understanding real-time congestion, traffic signal timing, traffic anomalies, and roadway design, he says.