Due to its low elevation, crowded beaches, and limited exit routes, Delaware is at high risk for severe flooding. However, authorities are optimistic that an increase in federal funding for infrastructure will lead to the development of automated evacuation plans through artificial intelligence.
The Biden administration planned to reveal grants totaling $53 million to Delaware and seven other states on Thursday to address traffic congestion issues through advanced technology, according to APNews.
Although the funding is from the infrastructure law signed by the president in 2021, some of the initiatives, including the $5 million for the flood response in Biden's home state, have developed since then.
The Federal Highway Administrator, Shailen Bhatt, stated that the latest development is the use of predictive analysis and machine learning. With the vast amount of data available, it becomes challenging for humans to differentiate between raw data and useful information.
Evacuation Protocols
During the tourism season in Delaware, officials regularly carry out evacuation protocols due to the heavy traffic of cars going to and from the beaches on weekends. However, flooding poses a distinct challenge as it can cause roads to become inundated, making it more dangerous for people to leave than to stay put.
The Delaware transportation department is responsible for managing over 90% of the roads in a state that has the lowest average elevation in the United States.
They have the responsibility of executing evacuation plans during times of flooding, which is a difficult task due to the rapid changes in water levels. This can be a challenging bureaucratic process.
George Zhao, who is the director of transportation at BlueHalo, a company based in Arlington, Virginia, stated that it is challenging for humans to keep track of numerous detectors or data sources. BlueHalo has collaborated with Delaware to create the software.
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The Need for AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can assist in situations where roads are blocked due to weather conditions. Instead of sending a crew to the location, the AI system utilizes sensors to identify potential weather hazards and forecasts them. It then sends alerts to drivers through their mobile devices and displays the same information on electronic highway signs.
There has been a continuous increase in the volume of data as numerous automated cars can now not only alert their drivers about potential hazards on the road but also provide information to notify other vehicles on the same route.
A team of researchers from Missouri University of Science and Technology conducted a trial on an older version of a flood forecast analysis system on the Mississippi River from 2019 to 2022. According to Steve Corns, one of the authors of the study and an associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering, the system was able to identify flood risks within a matter of minutes instead of several hours.
According to Corns, the current capabilities of the technology are more advanced and beneficial, but it is necessary to provide sufficient funding to ensure that the technology does not become outdated.
Earlier laws had granted over $300 million in grants to ease traffic congestion. The agency received applications worth $385 million for the latest batch of grants under the infrastructure law, which was only worth $52.8 million. Bhatt stated that this huge number of applications shows that people are eager to find new and creative ways to solve traffic issues.
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