MAY 30, 2023
Pradeep Gilbile, 39, owns a data analytics firm that provides services linked to Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Visualization etc – with its office in Hinjewadi. (Express Photo)
In February 2022, he almost missed an important appointment because it took him 1.5 hours to reach Aundh from Ravet, a distance of 14 kms, that should have taken him 40 minutes. It was then that software engineer Pradeep Gilbile thought of working on a technological product that will contribute towards solving the traffic issue. “Now that would be something that will address a real problem!,” Gilbile thought to himself.
The product turned out to be a ‘smart traffic signal system’ that Gilbile and the technical team at his firm Datamorphosis Technologies Pvt Ltd worked on for next 13 months and is now being tested with cooperation of Pimpri Chinchwad City Police at a busy Hinjewadi square. Gilbile, 39, owns a data analytics firm that provides services linked to Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Visualization etc – with its office in Hinjewadi.
“Before starting to work on a solution to the traffic issue, I looked at the various products that were in the market. There are many kinds of smart signaling systems and most of them were sensor based and have limitations. So I decided to work on a smart system that relied on real time image processing,” said Gilbile.
The system that he designed uses the existing traffic signal system by adding closed circuit cameras which have a vision of 200/300 metres, a processor and a controller that controls the signal timer. (Express Photo)
The system that he designed uses the existing traffic signal system by adding closed circuit cameras which have a vision of 200/300 metres, a processor and a controller that controls the signal timer.
“The signal timer responds to the video input coming from cameras monitoring different sides of the traffic signal. It counts the rows of the vehicles accumulated on each side, observes the time that’s being taken by each row and allot the time accordingly. This means that the side which has the low traffic will get shorter duration and the saved time will be allotted to the side which has higher load,” said Gilbile.
Apart from this, it detects approaching ambulances and opens the road for them automatically. It also does same when a ‘Green Corridor’ is in place and in case of VIP movement. It is also enabled to send alerts to officials concerned about unusual movements of public or vehicles.
As the system became ready to test, in March 2023 Gilbile approached the Pimpri Chinchwad Police’s traffic division. He received enthusiastic response from them and with active support of Police Inspector (Traffic) Sunil Pinjan the system was installed at Wakad Chowk in April 2023 on experimental basis.
Traffic congestion. – (Express Photo)
PI Pinjan said that the system is advantageous for traffic management and is being successfully tested with police cooperation.
“It showed good results. The feedback we received was that it was reducing the waiting period for road users by 70-80 per cent. On May 23, the system was shifted to Vinode Chowk in Hinjewadi, on instructions of Joint Commissioner Sanjay Shinde, as had become a big issue there. It is working successfully there as well,” said Gilbile.
PI Pinjan said that the system is advantageous for traffic management and is being successfully tested with police cooperation.
“We have also provided firm feedback on areas of improvement such as allotting time for pedestrian movement and use of electricity back up,” said Pinjan.
Gilbile said that he has registered a patent for the equipment and is planning to expand the use in other parts of Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune, both of which have a big traffic problem.
Courtesy/Source: Indian Express / PTI
