To address the increasingly complex traffic environment in Taiwan, the Software Technology Institute (STI) of the Institute for Information Industry (III), with support from the Administration for Digital Industries (ADI) of the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA), has successfully utilized "AI Traffic Safety Protection Technology" to develop the "Life Protection Passage System." This system employs AI image recognition to detect wheelchairs and ambulances at intersections, prompting vehicles to yield proactively and enhancing the smart application of traffic safety.
On October 7th, at the WITSA Global Awards Ceremony held during WCIT 2024 in the Republic of Armenia, the system won the prestigious 2024 WITSA ICT Excellence Award for "Smart Cities," which is regarded as the Oscars of the ICT industry. Notably, this technology also received the R&D 100 Awards, recognizing the world's top 100 technological innovations, and the Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards earlier this year. These accolades demonstrate Taiwan's leading position in AI technology and its significant recognition on the international stage.
The WITSA ICT Excellence Award for "Smart Cities," organized by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), recognizes innovative and impactful solutions in the development of smart cities. The "Life Protection Passage System," developed by the Institute for Information Industry (III), stood out among numerous solutions. It contributes to improving the quality of life for citizens and serves as a sustainable technology application.
I-Heng Meng, Senior Vice President and Director General of Software Technology Institute (STI), the Institute for Information Industry (III), stated that III has long been dedicated to the innovation, research and development of AI technology, continually accelerating the promotion of traffic data applications to help Taiwan build safer and smarter transportation systems. He expressed the honor that the "AI Traffic Safety Protection Technology" has won three international awards this year. Looking ahead, III plans to integrate the system with an Open API platform to promote traffic data integration and value-added applications. The system integration will encourage drivers to prioritize road safety, lay the foundation for smart city development, and further enhance Taiwan's overall traffic environment.
The "Life Protection Passage System" is trained for image recognition in mixed traffic environments using the Sardina AI dataset, independently developed by the Institute for Information Industry (III). During the field-testing phase, the system was deployed around Shin Kong Hospital in Shi-Lin District, Taipei City, focusing on the safety of pedestrians and vehicles. By integrating roadside cameras with AI technology, the system can identify the movement of wheelchair users and ambulances, providing real-time alerts to other drivers to slow down and yield, thereby reducing accident risks and enhancing emergency response efficiency. Additionally, the system features intersection event analysis and traffic flow prediction capabilities. Through visualized charts, it assists traffic management authorities in making more informed decisions to support intersection safety applications.
At the same time, the Software Technology Institute (STI) of the Institute for Information Industry (III) has collaborated with industry partners to apply "AI Traffic Safety Protection Technology" for real-time traffic detection at intersections. The system operates effectively regardless of day or night, or in sunny or rainy conditions. As of the end of September 2024, the technology has been deployed at over 200 locations across Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. Looking ahead, III will continue to optimize the technology and promote value-added applications of traffic data, providing robust support for the development of smart transportation in Taiwan while enhancing drivers' awareness of traffic regulations compliance.