Oxford-based technology company Purple Transform has secured a grant from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, to develop AI models that could dramatically improve safety at level crossings.
The project, ‘Levelling Up Crossings’, will use the firm’s intelligent platform, SiYtE, to analyse CCTV footage in real-time. The AI will be trained to spot potentially dangerous behaviour at level crossings, alerting staff to potential incidents before they happen.
By integrating with existing camera infrastructure, Purple Transform aims to provide a cost-effective solution to a long-standing rail safety issue. The project is also expected to reduce costly service disruptions caused by level crossing incidents.
Gregory Butler, chief executive of Purple Transform, said: “Level crossings are a major safety concern for the entire rail industry; not only do they represent a serious risk to the public, they are often the root cause of costly and frustrating service delays.
“As it’s simply not feasible for rail employees to monitor all of these crossings all of the time, radical new solutions are required. That’s where AI comes in.
“Our ‘Levelling Up Crossings’ project will help identify safety incidents before they develop, empowering relevant personnel to rectify the situation, keeping the railway moving and people out of harm’s way.”
