The surveillance grid expands.
Photo: FUY

More ‘smart initiatives’ rolled out.

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING

Major Adelaide roads will get artificial intelligence cameras aimed at ‘cutting traffic’ and ‘boosting economic activity’, at a cost of $350,000 to taxpayers.

South Australian Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the new trial would involve the cameras analysing congestion and tweaking traffic light cycles.

“They’ll save of course time and money in terms of infrastructure, time and money in terms of being stuck in traffic, freight getting to where it’s needed to go faster and more efficiently, public transport moving more quickly,” Koutsantonis said.

Koutsantonis described the technology as a “powerful piece of equipment to improve our traffic network” when announcing the new trial.

One camera will go on the highway at the northern suburb of Penfield, and another will be placed at the major bus station, Paradise Interchange, in the northeast suburbs. Another two will go on the highway at the far-southern suburb of Old Noarlunga.

The government says traffic congestion costs the economy $33,000 for every 5000 motorists forced to wait in 20 minutes of traffic. That’s a very precise (and symbolic) number.

“The traffic management system using artificial intelligence can cost as little as $8000 at an intersection if the infrastructure is already in place without having to put in new infrastructure,” Koutsantonis continued.

The government will look to add more cameras if the trial is successful.

Adelaide, which already has smart infrastructure installed (like all major cities in Australia), is looking to upgrade the network with an AI supercharge overlay. Entire networks run by sophisticated algorithms.

‘SMART TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT’

Although a seemingly innocent initiative, smart cameras are part of a larger agenda, one that helps fulfil the vision set out for this country and our infrastructure in the cities and regions.

Last year, the South Australian government decided to follow in the footsteps of various other states and permanently install mobile phone detection cameras (MPDC).

‘Phone detection cameras’ being installed on South Australian roads

As part of a $15.9 million program, if you are caught by a mobile phone detection camera while driving, you will be fined $650 and lose three demerit points.

Governments and councils around the country are using AI cameras in various ways.

NSW councils use the feed from dashcams to identify road defects, and the NSW state government uses AI in Sydney’s southwest to identify koalas and alert drivers.

In Melbourne in 2022, an AI-powered traffic-management system known as the “Intelligent Corridor” was launched to cover a 2.5km stretch between Alexandra and Victoria Parades.

The “world’s smartest” AI traffic-management system has launched in Melbourne

The ‘Intelligent Corridor’ uses sensors, cloud-based AI, machine-learning algorithms, predictive models, and real-time data capture with the goal of ‘easing congestion’, ‘improving road safety for cars and pedestrians’, and ‘reducing emissions’.

“From connected vehicles to autonomous driving to integrated mobility management, this technology is laying the groundwork for a sustainable and congestion-free future, using the very best in multi-modal demand management technologies,” said Matthew McLeish, TrafficCom Executive Vice-President.

The key word there: Integrated.

Melbourne has also rolled out AI cameras in a number of areas to ‘clamp down on drunk and drug-affected motorists’, in a move that has drawn similar criticisms.

New AI cameras will ‘detect drunk drivers’ on roads

By implementing smart city technology and successfully leveraging the vast amounts of data delivered via a myriad of sensors, a new age will begin for local authorities.

Adelaide is already a smart city, rolling out infrastructure prior to the ‘pandemic’, as we reported.

Australia is building ‘smart city’ infrastructure

The driverless/electric vehicle push is directly linked to smart initiatives. Australia’s move towards a biometric dystopia is expanding without consultation with the public.

Big Brother is Watching, South Australia.