AI in the fight for clean air in cities

Promising opportunities in the field of smart city

In many industries and areas of life, the use of artificial intelligence is perceived with mixed feelings. In the field of smart city technologies, however, the applications are quite promising. AI is based on the concept of correlation. Thus, the use of AI could be particularly interesting for cities that already use advanced IoT technologies and collect meaningful data to act sustainably and improve quality of life.

The importance of research projects in the field of artificial intelligence is more than clear from this year's Turing Award to scientists Yoshua Bengio, Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun. The Turing Award is commonly referred to as the "Nobel Prize in Data Processing". The three scientists have helped drive the application of networks that ultimately give computers the ability to recognize patterns and languages and draw conclusions from complex data.

Urban application example: Singapore

According to the MinebeaMitsumi subsidiary Paradox Engineering, the use of AI can have enormous significance in cities where very large amounts of data are collected and processed. It is only with the help of very large amounts of data that AI-based, innovative solutions can be made possible to reduce air pollution. For example, in Singapore, where air pollution and the associated health costs are extremely high. BUSINESS TIMES also reports on the promising prospects of improving air quality in Singapore with the help of AI. A team of researchers is working on the possibilities of pairing sensor technology with IoT systems and AI in order to obtain reliable environmental data and improve urban sustainability. With the help of the collected data, so-called heat maps are possible in Singapore, which map the air quality in a similar and user-friendly way. In addition, the most serious air pollution 'hotspots' can be identified. With the help of AI, it is even possible to make predictions about which areas should be shunned at what times, which of course also allows proactive measures in problem areas in the next step. Of course, this does not fully address the problem, but for Singapore's inhabitants, this could be an important first step in the right direction. The cost of Singapore's health care is estimated at 3.75 trillion U.S. dollars. Of course, it is not only Singapore that is struggling with these problems: 92 percent of the world's population lives in places where air quality exceeds WHO limits, resulting in millions of deaths each year. And it's not just about health: the growing general concern about climate change and global warming is leading artificial intelligence to emerge as a possible rescue from an almost hopeless situation. According to Vox Media, AI is becoming one of the most important human goods in the David vs. Goliath fight of our time.

Second example: London

In Greater London, around 1,200 sensors collect data in real time. This data uses a predictive model that shows which parts of the city are most polluted. The BBC reports that predictions are currently possible for 48 hours. So London residents can choose routes that expose them to as little air pollution as possible. The next step could be intrusive measures – for example, the closure of certain roads at certain times to prevent at least a cumulation of air pollution. London's biggest cause for concern is undoubtedly air pollution from traffic. Developments in the field of autonomous driving could mitigate this in the future. AI-based technologies enable the highly efficient transportation of people and goods, significantly reducing oil consumption and emissions. The duration of journey times can be further reduced by intelligent traffic lights.

The MinebeaMitsumi subsidiary Paradox Engineering offers an impressive portfolio of platforms that support all kinds of smart city developments and data-driven processes, providing a foundation for AI-based applications. With any Paradox Engineering IoT solution, interoperability is a top priority to provide smart cities with a predictive, intelligent perspective.