Drones are monitoring traffic flows in Helsinki’s West Harbor for AI-powered simulations

The drones primarily collect information on passengers’ route choices to improve connections between different modes of transport and reduce peak congestion. The anonymous data will be fed into a traffic simulation model, which the City of Helsinki can use to test new traffic management methods and anticipate and even prevent congestion in the future.

The drones monitor various modes of transport – such as cars, buses, trams, trucks, bicycles, electric scooters, and pedestrians. This provides a comprehensive picture of how people and vehicles move in the area.

This is the third and final round of drone flights for Forum Virium’s Acumen project, which began in 2023. Previous observations have already provided information on Jätkäsaari’s traffic flows, and this year’s data will complete the overall picture during peak shipping times.

“The key challenges in the area are related to occasional congestion and ensuring sustainable mobility – such as walking, cycling and public transport. The data obtained from the flights helps us develop new AI-based tools that can manage traffic more intelligently,” says Senior Project Manager Eero Jalo from Forum Virium Helsinki.

Jalo hopes that the flights can be arranged as planned, but some may have to be canceled due to thunderstorms or radio interference.

The drone flights are being carried out as part of the EU-funded international ACUMEN project, which promotes green transition, responsible mobility, and citizen engagement. The project’s goal is to improve traffic flow with AI solutions and create a basis for more sustainable urban mobility.