This project was cooperated by TMB with the Barcelona City Council and was previously tested and inspected in New York (USA). According to this project, some buses will be equipped with integrated AI cameras, capable of detecting vehicles that obstruct public traffic.
Currently, the project is testing up to four buses on routes H12 and D20. They are equipped with front cameras, combined with an AI system developed by Hayden AI, an American company.
This system automatically detects vehicles illegally parked in bus lanes or at bus stations by analyzing the environment around the bus in real time.
The bus network is essential to ensure the reliability and speed of the service. Violating the static affects the safety and slows down the bus. Cars parked near the bus station also hinder the access of users with limited mobility.
When violations are detected, cameras installed in front of the relevant bus will record photos and videos. However, no license plate or face was recorded; only anonymous statistical data was transmitted, complying with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
So far, 2,500 violations have been identified in a month at Barcelona, but no fines have been imposed. The pilot phase is expected to last six months, with the aim of integrating the system into the entire fleet and the possibility of applying sanctions.
The system, developed by Hayden AI, has been tested and tested in the US, where it has been installed for bus teams in New York, Los Angeles, Washington and Oakland. By the end of 2024, more than 1,000 buses in New York had been equipped with the technology.
Since 2019, more than 438,000 notices of violations have been issued to vehicles driving in the bus lane. Over the year, the government has seen an average increase in public transport speeds of 5%, as well as a 20% reduction in collisions and an estimated reduction of 5% to 10% in CO2 emissions, depending on the surrounding area.
