We are at an inflexion point in the battle against climate change. Scientists have long been sounding the alarm about the damage carbon emissions are doing to our planet but now they are beginning to observe widespread, unprecedented changes across the whole climate system. Some of these are irreversible over hundreds, to thousands, of years.

Limiting climate change

The good news is that we still have the opportunity to limit climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN body that assesses the science of climate change, states that “…strong and sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases would limit climate change.”

Beyond tackling climate change, limiting carbon emissions will also improve many people’s quality of life by improving air quality in their towns and cities. Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health and cutting emissions reduces the onset and mortality from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases like asthma.

Video analytics to support climate change efforts

To support wider carbon emission cutting, city and business leaders can invest in intelligent, video-based solutions that minimise congestion and make moving around a city, car park, and site, simpler. Simultaneously, the video analytics technology employed to do this can additionally support toll-road and parking pricing or rule enforcement, improve security, and boost the driver experience.

The role of AI

Intelligent cameras, such as the Wisenet AI cameras, come equipped with edge-based artificial intelligence (AI) that can detect and classify different vehicle categories and models. Bicycles can be differentiated from cars and trucks, for example, enabling operators to allow certain vehicular traffic through an area and limit others. So, trucks could be restricted from entering residential streets or any vehicle from roads near schools during drop-off and pick-up times. This will keep traffic on the move and protect vulnerable residents and children from exhaust fumes.

Likewise, operators can monitor road usage and redirect traffic to alternative routes if congestion is building up. AI can alert operators to potential traffic jams or road accidents, enabling them to take proactive action to avoid worsening congestion. Simultaneously, updates and closures can be communicated to drivers through integrated digital displays placed along a route.

Parking solutions

When a vehicle reaches its destination, again, video analytics technology can ensure a smoother driving and parking experience — and by extension, lower emissions. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) fulfils multiple roles here, by automatically allowing access to a car park for pre-authorised vehicles to enforcing parking penalties, and monitoring a site for dangerous driving. Reducing the time taken to wait for a barrier to raise or a ticket to be issued will ultimately add up across hundreds of vehicles entering and exiting a site. Meanwhile, bad parking that hinders other vehicles and causes congestion can be avoided. ANPR can also help traffic flow more smoothly through other stop-and-go installations like toll roads.

Furthermore, serverless ANPR solutions work on-site to allow entry and exit and to capture and transmit vehicle data without a server. Ideally suited to car parks and small residential estates, investing in this edge-based solution cuts down on the electricity required to run a server room (plus its air conditioning and other utilities to keep it running). An on-premise server generates, on average, 916 kg CO2e/year and 320 kg CO2e/year to produce — needing over 50 trees to grow each year to offset. Similar gains can be had by investing in cameras that support edge-based AI.

Data-driven planning

Longer-term, the data generated from AI cameras can be used to develop more efficient roads and parking spaces. Usage can be analysed to detect the most popular areas and routes and to widen or restrict access based on this. More parking spaces could be provided in popular areas or alternative transport like buses could be introduced. Overlaid with other city data, like pedestrian footfall or air quality sensors, certain areas could be made pedestrian-only during peak times for pollution. The impact of a new road could be analysed to see if it has increased or reduced carbon emissions.

Available now

With Wisenet Road AI (which runs on selected Wisenet P series 4K cameras) these advances are at every city leader’s fingertips. Installing AI into your video surveillance system has never been easier — or more critical. As we continue to fight climate change, every difference you can make to emissions will add to the global effort. And we’ll continue to find new ways to build a more sustainable future – something that is at the heart of the Hanwha Group’s mission.

Written by Uri Uri Guterman, Head of Product and Marketing for Hanwha Techwin Europe