Raspberry Pi and AI power open source smart city monitoring project

Raspberry Pi
(Image credit: Glossyio)

If you're planning to go out, it doesn't hurt to take a look at the weather and traffic report for your area. But what if you could get even more specific? That's where this cool Raspberry Pi project put together by maker and developer Glossyio comes in. Using our favorite SBC, they've crafted an AI-driven traffic monitor that provides specific traffic data no matter where it is deployed.

This project, like many others we feature, is open source so there's tons of source material to dig through if you want to create it for yourself or just get a better idea about how it goes together. This particular setup is really flexible so you can add or remove components to suit your preferences. Glossyio has yet to upload a build guide but plans to in the future.

The current iteration offers a handful of really useful features and compiles data to a series of easy-to-read graphs. Examples include the ability to monitor objects using a doppler radar, an AI system to count cars, cyclists and pedestrians. It even has the ability to determine the speed of passing cars.

If you're planning to use a Raspberry Pi for an AI system like this, it's a good idea to get your hands on the latest Raspberry Pi 5 for its performance and memory capacity. In Glossyio's setup, the Pi is connected to a Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 to capture images (a good choice given that it has autofocus), an OPS243-A doppler radar sensor as well as an AI co-processor to help with the AI functionality. The traffic monitor is intended to be mounted outdoors in a location with a good view of the road and obviously it will need to be housed inside of a weather-proof enclosure.

You can find a detailed explanation of the software-side of the project over at the official project website trafficmonitor.ai. All of the source code has been shared, as well, and can be found over at GitHub.

If you want to get a closer look at this Raspberry Pi project, check out the AI traffic monitor website and be sure to follow Glossyio for future updates.

Ash Hill
Contributing Writer

Ash Hill is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware with a wealth of experience in the hobby electronics, 3D printing and PCs. She manages the Pi projects of the month and much of our daily Raspberry Pi reporting while also finding the best coupons and deals on all tech.

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  • Blastomonas
    Whilst this sounds interesting.. Is one allowed to place things like cameras and radar over looking public spaces? I'm reasonably sure that CCTV is only allowed to cover ones own property. Or have missed something here?
    Reply
  • passivecool
    I'm assuming no images are saved or relayed, and therefore no personal data is stored. You don't have to sign permission for the traffic observation cameras in tunnels or for speedtraps either. Obviously, there are industrial solutions for this already, but it is a neat diy project. In the use case depicted, however, I personally would be prone to just looking out the window. ... Maybe it hooks into the smarthome and Maker gets to sleep 10 minutes longer on days when there is less traffic?
    Reply
  • Blastomonas
    passivecool said:
    I'm assuming no images are saved or relayed, and therefore no personal data is stored. You don't have to sign permission for the traffic observation cameras in tunnels or for speedtraps either. Obviously, there are industrial solutions for this already, but it is a neat diy project. In the use case depicted, however, I personally would be prone to just looking out the window. ... Maybe it hooks into the smarthome and Maker gets to sleep 10 minutes longer on days when there is less traffic?
    Thanks for the reply. That would make sense regarding the images.

    As you say, its a neat project, but probably of little use in reality.
    Reply
  • breenW
    This is timely. Our NGO is looking for a solution to monitor movement for smart city carbon credit holders.
    Reply