Smart transportation tech showcased in Dublin aims to enhance road safety

By Breana Albizu

Residents were granted a firsthand look into the world of connected vehicles, smart infrastructure and futuristic tools.

DUBLIN, Ohio — Bridge Park became a real-world showcase for the future of transportation.

This week, transportation leaders and technology experts gathered for the annual ITS Midwest Conference & Expo. It's an opportunity for those in the heart of the community to bring emerging technology and issue live demonstrations. Officials from the City of Dublin hosted the event this year.

"This is an up-and-coming area. They're on the forefront," said Nick Hegemier, managing director of infrastructure with Drive Ohio.

During the conference, visitors and residents were also granted a firsthand look into the world of connected vehicles, smart infrastructure, and futuristic tools, all in an effort to make transportation safer and smarter for drivers and pedestrians.

"The most interesting part is bringing all of the vendors together and having them be interoperable," said Hegemier.

The event included a ride-along through one of the city's most popular areas, Bridge Park. By using a special device from the company, Ettifos, participants could see how cars and roadway infrastructure "talk" to each other in real time. From alerts like speech checks and pothole detection to crosswalk illumination.

"There could be potholes. Maybe the drivers can't see, so this is another type of warning that could be helpful for the safety of drivers," said Jane Lee. She leads Global Business Development at Ettifos.

The device even offers a full countdown to traffic lights before they change colors.

"You can then know, okay, maybe I should slow down. I can see, for example, if there's only five seconds left for green," added Lee. "I shouldn't just try to step on it and go through."

The emerging technology is just one of several promoting efficiency out on the roads.

Another visualization at the Riverside Drive roundabout showed how artificial intelligence could predict where vehicles were headed, how to keep pedestrians unharmed and decrease crashes.

The roundabout combines two state routes, which in turn, equals a lot of traffic.

"We see a few crashes a month, even a week, at this roundabout," said Karl Jeanbart, COO & co-Founder at Derq.

The system, called Derq, uses real-time data to help better understand traffic flows and driver interactions around the circle.

It also keeps vehicles anonymous and never personally identifies them.

"This is kind of the AI layer that is translating what the cameras and other sensors are seeing," Jeanbart said.

This is just one of several initiatives that leaders around central Ohio are paying extra attention to.

While some of the showcased technology is already installed in areas like Dublin and Marysville, other cities are hoping to install their own devices within the next four years.