Delaware, renowned for its picturesque beaches and low elevation, faces a significant threat from flooding. To address this vulnerability, Delaware officials have turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to bolster their evacuation plans.
The Biden administration has allocated $53 million in grants, including $5 million specifically for flood response efforts in Delaware. By leveraging predictive analysis and machine learning, the state aims to automate evacuation procedures and enhance public safety during flood events.
Enhancing Evacuation Plans with AI
Delaware’s transportation department, responsible for managing over 90% of the state’s roads, faces the daunting task of implementing evacuation plans during high water levels. The rapid changes in flooding conditions make this a bureaucratic challenge. George Zhao, director of transportation for BlueHalo, a technology company collaborating with Delaware, highlights the overwhelming nature of monitoring numerous detectors or data sources manually.
To address this issue, Delaware has integrated AI technology into its evacuation plans. The system employs sensors to detect and predict weather threats accurately. Instead of relying on human analysis, the system directly alerts drivers through cellphone notifications and electronic highway signs, enabling timely and informed decision-making. The ever-growing data pool, including inputs from automated vehicles, further strengthens the system’s predictive capabilities.
Benefits and Promising Results
The adoption of AI technology has proven highly advantageous for Delaware’s flood response efforts. By quickly detecting and communicating impending dangers, the system minimizes the risk of vehicles becoming stranded in hazardous conditions. Gene Donaldson, operations manager at Delaware’s Transportation Management Center, emphasizes the importance of timely decision-making to prevent potential accidents and ensure public safety.
Between 2019 and 2022, a preliminary iteration of a flood prediction analysis system was assessed along the Mississippi River, revealing promising outcomes. Steve Corns, a study co-author and associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, emphasizes the system’s capacity to swiftly identify dangers within minutes, a task that formerly required hours. The system’s effectiveness has been further enhanced and its worth heightened due to technological advancements and increased financial support.
Federal Funding and Innovative Solutions
The Biden administration’s infrastructure law plays a pivotal role in supporting high-tech solutions to traffic congestion problems across the United States. Delaware’s $5 million grant is part of a larger $53 million allocation, with other states also receiving funding for innovative projects. Maryland secured $14 million for machine learning traffic prediction and signal timing, while Ann Arbor, Michigan, received $12.7 million to retrofit its traffic system with cellular technology that could serve as a national model. Additionally, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, was granted $11.6 million to expand its microtransit service.
The substantial demand for these grants underscores the pressing need for inventive solutions to address traffic challenges. Shailen Bhatt, the U.S. Federal Highway Administrator and Delaware’s former transportation secretary, highlights the overwhelming response, with $385 million in applications received for the $52.8 million available under the latest round of grants. This fervor reflects the widespread appetite for forward-thinking approaches that can revolutionize traffic management and public safety nationwide.
