By the end of 2025, over 120 intersections in Chattanooga will have traffic management technology installed through the Ouster BlueCity solution.

This project is being conducted by the California-based lidar technology company Ouster after it was awarded a $2 million contract for the Scenic City. 12 intersections have already been piloted (like at Georgia Avenue + MLK Boulevard) — let's get into the hows and whys.

Ouster BlueCity technology
This system uses digital lidar sensors — think: pulsed lasers that measure distances to a target — and edge AI to collect more intelligent signal actuation at intersections + data.

The sensors are connected to perception software that creates a real-time, 3D digital traffic copy of the intersection or road it is monitoring. Notably, the data is stored in the cloud for continued monitoring and as a resource for long-term planning.

This turnkey solution sets up a virtual loop to capture the data + classifies the information by vehicles, pedestrians, or bikes. | Photo via University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Research Institute

Why it matters
The key goal is to improve roadway safety and reduce congestion. This can be achieved through the data that shows traffic flow, detection + analysis of safety incidents, and detection for vehicle-to-everything communications.

Anything from the number of near-misses, travelers running red lights, and pedestrian crossing time estimations will be calculated.

“Ouster BlueCity already led us to install a crosswalk that resulted in a 100% reduction in near-miss incidents on a high-risk city block," said Founding Director of the Center for Urban Informatics & Progress (CUIP) Dr. Mina Sartipi. "We are just starting to capture the full benefits of this technology.”

The city is working with Southern Lighting & Traffic Systems + CUIP to have the software installed by the end of the year.

Wanting to hear directly from the experts? Register for a free webinar on Tuesday, Jan 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. to learn fully about how Chattanooga is redefining this research.