UTC receives $500,000 grant to advance smart traffic and safety technology

MGN

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —  The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has received a $500,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to support smart city projects with DENSO and LG CNS.

The UTC-DENSO project aims to predict crashes before they happen and detect them instantly.

The system will track how cars and people move through intersections and alert drivers or emergency services to prevent or respond to accidents.

The UTC-LG CNS project uses AI and sensors to make crosswalks safer, especially for kids, seniors, and people with disabilities.

It adjusts signals to give more crossing time and uses LIDAR technology from Ouster to collect safety data.

“We appreciate that the TNECD and the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) share our commitment to supporting safer and more efficient mobility. By working together, we’re further developing technology that not only helps streamline traffic flows and assists first responders but also protects those who are most vulnerable on our roads, helping contribute to improved safety outcomes.”

– Shin Nakamura, senior vice president of North America R&D, DENSO

“This partnership between LG CNS and the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) marks a significant milestone in smart city innovation. Leveraging LG CNS’s global leadership in advanced urban technologies such as Smart Cities, Intelligent Transportation, AI and CUIP’s research-driven approach and local insight, the two organizations are committed to transforming Tennessee into a national model for data-driven, people-centric city infrastructure. With Chattanooga as the launch point, this collaboration has the potential to elevate Tennessee as the No. 1 smart city and state in the U.S.”

-Sook Meslin, vice president, LG CNS

The projects are led by UTC’s Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) and aim to make Chattanooga a model smart city.