By Tom Austin-Morgan

BridgeAI is a program supported by Innovate UK funding and being delivered by a consortium comprising Innovate UK, Digital Catapult, The Alan Turing Institute, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Hartree Centre, and the British Standards Institution (BSI).

Innovate UK is currently directing efforts towards the development of AI solutions and research and development initiatives in four key sectors, one of which is transportation. The programme has been allocated £100 million in funding, slated for delivery by 2026.

Sara El Hanfy, Head of AI and Machine Learning, Innovate UK, says: "Our programme bridges the gap between developers and end users, fostering user-driven AI technologies. With a focus on ethics, transparency, and data privacy, we aim to build trust and confidence in the development of AI solutions."

While the UK boasts a thriving AI sector, the adoption of AI technologies across various industries remains uneven on both the demand and supply sides. Unfortunately, the transportation sector doesn't rank high on the list of adopters.

Currently, over 2,000 UK companies incorporate AI into their strategic operations, with a majority hailing from sectors such as marketing, advertising, fintech, consulting, data analytics, and development. However, initial reports from BridgeAI suggest the transport sector stands to gain immensely from further AI advancements.

Addressing one of today's paramount challenges, decarbonisation, is a top priority for many. AI presents a promising solution by leveraging its capabilities to analyse traffic data and fuel consumption patterns. This analysis facilitates more precise route planning, efficient traffic management, and optimisation of fleets, contributing significantly to decarbonising the sector.

An illustrative example of AI implementation is the management of traffic lights in Manchester, marking a pioneering initiative in the UK. Additionally, Google has initiated trials aimed at reducing 'stop-go' emissions and enhancing traffic flow throughout the city. Google's findings indicate that half of emissions at traffic intersections stem from vehicles halting and then restarting. These endeavours underscore the transformative potential of AI in mitigating environmental impact while enhancing transportation efficiency.

Global trade networks and the UK’s economy

The efficient movement of goods and people form the backbone of economic activity in the UK. In 2021 alone, the country witnessed a staggering 645 billion passenger kilometres travelled, reflecting the extensive mobility needs of its populace. Furthermore, the UK facilitated the exchange of 360 million tonnes of freight, underscoring its pivotal role in global trade networks. These figures demonstrate the critical importance of transportation infrastructure and systems in sustaining and driving economic growth and prosperity within the UK and beyond.

"AI has the potential to transform all elements of the transport system," states El Hanfy. "Maximising efficiencies and boosting productivity, whilst facilitating the transition to net zero."

Asked what the first step should be for the transport sector in getting to grips with AI and its potential, El Hanfy says: "We're really keen for innovation to be driven by the transport sector itself.

"It would be wrong for Innovate UK to say which challenges organisations should be solving. Our work is helping AI developers from outside of the transport sector to better understand the opportunities.

"We've approached the programme by bringing together AI developers, the academic community and SMEs to co-create end user driven, trusted solutions. We aim to bring the right stakeholders together and help to break down barriers.

"Many AI companies gravitate towards healthcare or fintech because they better understand these use cases. So, [a key] aspect of the programme is raising awareness of the interesting challenges that exist in sectors such as transport,” El Hanfy concludes.

Image: Sara El Hanfy, Head of AI and Machine Learning, Innovate UK; credit: Sara El Hanfy.