Technology

Posted on July 25, 2018 by staff

Tech partnership to help solve traffic chaos

Technology

A North East tech firm is partnering with real-time navigation app Waze to help reduce congestion on the roads.

Lexicon Science, a developer of new technologies using space data, artificial intelligence and augmented reality, will use Waze’s data from over two million monthly users in the UK.

The data will be used to model how changes to road design, traffic flow and smart navigation will ease movement around cities, improve air quality, and to develop systems for autonomous vehicles.

Lexicon Science joins Transport for London, The Alan Turing Institute and Oxfordshire County Council in receiving access to data generated by Waze as part of its Connected Citizens Program (CCP).

“Our partnership will enable Waze and its loyal users’ data to contribute to the smart cities of the future, and improve the current situation for travellers and governments who are battling with legacy infrastructure designed for a different era,” said Lexicon Science chief executive Austen Atkinson.

“By analysing the Waze data, corroborating from space-based data via AI, and delivering with 2D and augmented reality, we can revolutionise transport.

“Humankind has never had access to data of this kind before and by going back to first principles and looking at things in a totally new and informed way, we can help improve the quality of life for everyone.”

Thais Blumenthal de Moraes, global business development manager at Waze, added: “There are over 2 billion people around the world whose lives can be improved by cities reviewing and improving the flow of traffic, and therefore reducing knock-on effects such as emissions.

“At Waze, we are actively seeking routes that will help to reduce the number of cars on the road and the amount of pollution being created. The team at Lexicon Science is involved with a number of highly promising projects where Waze data will make a key difference.”

Lexicon is headquartered Spectrum Business Park in Seaham, a cutting-edge facility on Durham’s Heritage Coast.