Nexar launched CityStream that creates digital road maps and captures high-frequency, localized data from the road in real-time, using smartphones as dashcams and data recorders.
As part of the launch, Nexar has created the CityStream data platform, and the way in which the technology can benefit cities and other municipalities in real-time.
To date, most efforts to gain visibility of a city’s roadways require expensive, stationary hardware that has a limited reach. Nexar’s CityStream provides an innovative solution by leveraging smartphones that millions of city drivers already own, and as a result, turning every vehicle into a sensor that visually scans the road providing invaluable insights. Nexar’s mobile app uses on-device artificial intelligence (AI) to create a digital map to capture the driving scene and produces a low-latency information ‘firehose’ of GIS tagged objects of road obstacles, traffic conditions, and the state of infrastructure.
Nexar claims it reduces the initial cost of deployment, and allowes for rapid integration of new traffic, navigation and operation applications. Municipalities and city agencies can benefit from this data in real-time by unlocking a variety of applications, such as congestion management, first response management, parking and mass transportation optimization, city sanitation operations, and public safety.
A clearer understanding of the city provides valuable insights for navigation, fleets and ride-sharing services as well. Their drivers are dependent on precise routes and optimized estimated-time-of-arrival (ETA) as they are determined to maximize the efficiency of their driving routes every day.
“We partnered with Nexar and gained access to CityStream with the intent of gaining a live understanding of obstacles and other road events that could influence our planning and ETA,” said Oren Shoval, Co-Founder and VP Engineering at ride-sharing service Via. “CityStream’s APIs help us strive towards our ultimate goal of providing the most efficient and predictable ride-sharing service possible.”
Drivers can use the Nexar app for real-time warnings to dangers on the road based on the camera’s vision and community alerts. It also records accidents and shows a view of the passengers in a vehicle for ride share drivers.
Nexar connects cars in the world’s largest open vehicle-to-vehicle network. Leveraging connected smartphones and car cameras and sensors, Nexar provides real-time alerts to prevent vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian collisions. The Nexar app is available in Google Play or Apple App stores.