How are predictive policing and traffic management tools used on Indian roads? | Explained Premium

Intelligent traffic policing systems in India allow the authorities to quickly process data in order to get a consolidated picture of which areas require immediate intervention

The story so far: On February 20, Dick Schoof, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, visited Bengaluru Traffic Police’s Traffic Management Centre (TMC), where he spoke about the Actionable Intelligence for Sustainable Transformation Management (ASTraM) system. ASTraM, developed in collaboration with the Dutch company Arcadis, pools data from CCTV footage and open data sources to monitor and predict trends in real-time across Bengaluru’s congested roadways. Cities like Delhi, Hyderabad, and even Dubai, have expressed interest in this technology, a source said.

Google Maps and other prominent mapping applications have been providing users with real-time traffic congestion data for years. They also report on traffic incidents and affected regions. But these systems do not provide predictive services. In contrast, ASTraM identifies congested areas, batches them, and then alerts relevant officers at fifteen minute intervals. By capturing both recurring and non-recurring congestion points, this application provides insights that can be used for predictive traffic policing and incident reporting.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is another strategy that is used across Indian cities to identify violators. The Greater Chennai Traffic Police also uses an integrated traffic regulation system (ITRS) that involves AI and live feeds for efficient traffic management, allowing them to track down repeat offenders.

Intelligent traffic policing systems allow the authorities to quickly process data across many media formats in order to get a consolidated picture of which areas require immediate intervention and urgent traffic policing solutions. The police can also build on this data to prepare for future events like processions, unrest, and traffic chokeholds. This is far more effective than relying on existing app-based GPS systems, or waiting for users to telephone or post their complaints on social media before taking action.

Furthermore, since these intelligent traffic policing systems have more localised data to work with, they can potentially prevent accidents that occur due to a mixture of Google Maps and human errors. For instance, take past incidents where Google Maps allegedly led drivers into dangerous zones such as non-functional bridges, causing multiple deaths.

Surveillance/intelligence policing can also help the authorities identify rule violators in risky areas, without officers having to be physically present at the scene.