The Department for Transport has launched its Transport AI Action Plan, setting out how it will work with the transport sector to exploit the opportunities from AI while managing and mitigating potential risks.
The action plan focuses on setting the foundations to embed AI in transport, preparing both the sector and the organisations which enable it for rapid change. The plan sets out longer-term ambitions for an AI-enabled transport future and how it will help to deliver the Government’s Missions and DfT priorities including, kickstarting economic growth, breaking down barriers to opportunity, delivering greener transport and cementing the UK position at the forefront of the AI revolution.
Says a DfT statement: “This includes implementing AI within DfT to support our business and deploying it across the transport system to both improve transport user experiences and boost growth.
“The action plan represents the start of a step-change for AI in our transport system, recognising its power to increase resilience, productivity and turbo-charge innovation across the private and public sectors.
It signals our intent to stakeholders across the transport system, other government departments and innovators creating new AI solutions.”
AI-enabled transport, says the plan, promises better routing, predictive maintenance, intelligent traffic signals and multimodal integration – technologies that could revolutionise congestion management, air quality and accessibility in UK towns and cities. Several use case examples are cited including the CitySwift-TfGM Bee Network in Greater Manchester and Tees Valley’s digital traffic twin, which demonstrate ‘real-time AI-driven optimisation in urban environments’.
Dft says its lon g-term vision is “Responsible AI embedded in a resilient transport system delivering cheaper, cleaner, and safer journeys for all” but in order to achieve it, the Department and the transport sector will have to work together to:
• Adopt AI responsibly to deliver better transport for all by ensuring that AI systems are ethical, safe, secure, and accountable, and that they respect the rights and interests of users, workers, and the public.
• Maximise the economic benefit from AI applications in transport, whilst reducing transport’s environmental impacts by supporting innovation and investment, creating new jobs and skills, and enabling a safer, greener and more efficient transport system.
• Secure the UK position at the forefront of transport-related AI applications by supporting a world-class research and development ecosystem, promoting international collaboration and standards, and showcasing the UK’s leadership and excellence in transport AI.
• Utilise AI to enhance the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of DfT by strengthening DfT’s own data and digital capabilities, embedding AI across policy and delivery functions, and providing guidance and oversight to the transport sector.
(Pic: Yay Images)
