OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County is using artificial intelligence to help handle its growing traffic woes.

What You Need To Know

  • Osceola County is using artificial intelligence to help with traffic management

  • AI is helping spot almost-crashes at nine intersections

  • Results so far indicate changes could be made to make the intersections safer

  • AI is also helping to improve traffic flow

In addition to widening projects, county officials say they hope the use of technology will help reduce crashes and congestion.

“Our primary objective with the implementation of the artificial intelligence technology at these nine intersections is to identify crashes before they actually happen,” Assistant Director of Transportation Nicholas Hartley said.

At Osceola County’s Traffic Management Center, 155 cameras can spot crashes and slowdowns in the county.

The AI technology, implemented last year, is helping to determine how to stop crashes before they occur.

“Our goal here is to look at the crashes that almost happened, which are identified by the artificial intelligence, observing the intersection in real time, and make sure all those almost-crashes help guide our dollars in improving the transportation network, to prevent that catastrophic crash from happening in the first place,” Hartley said.

One of intersections at which AI is implemented is Orange Blossom Trail and Poinciana Boulevard.

Hartley said data from AI indicates that right-turn issues have resulted in a number of almost-crashes at that intersection.

“Maybe it’s not allowing right turns on red if that free flow right-turn movement is resulting in almost-crashes,” suggested Hartley, “a very small change that could have a very significant impact.”

AI is being used at the following locations:

  • Highway 17 (OBT) and South Poinciana Boulevard

  • I-4 eastbound ramp and County Road 532

  • John Young Parkway and West Donegan Avenue

  • U.S. 192 and Black Lake Road

  • U.S. 192 and Entry Point Boulevard

  • U.S. 192 and Formosa Gardens Boulevard

  • U.S. 192 and John Young Parkway

  • U.S. 192 and North Hoagland Boulevard

  • U.S. 192 and North Old Lake Wilson Road

Final results from an ongoing study will help county transportation officials decide whether they should expand AI to other locations, Hartley said.

“We’re getting real, actionable data out of the system, and we’re optimistic that we’ll continue to get that information to guide our resources and dollars in the capital improvement program,” he said.

The technology is also being used to reduce congestion. On Pleasant Hill Road, the program allows traffic signals to change in real time, based on traffic flow.

Brian Freeman, who lives off Osceola Parkway, said he hopes the technology can help improve traffic flow elsewhere.

“It would be a good idea if they could somehow sync them more to traffic flow,” Freeman suggested.