Covid-19 prompts DataFromSky’s ‘largest ever’ traffic survey

First published in Intertraffic Innovation News - May 5, 2020

Lenka Sediva

DataFromSky is inviting anyone in the traffic or transport industries to join the open traffic Covid-19 dataset initiative which will document changes in traffic behaviour due to the pandemic. Traffic volumes, patterns, pedestrian spacing and other factors from around the world can all be analysed.

The initiative is supported by leading research institutes and is open to everyone in what has been described as the largest community traffic survey in our history.

As Lenka Šedivá, project manager at DataFromSky points out, our transport behaviour has changed during the Covid-19 outbreak. “But by how much? In what aspects? Have pedestrians started driving? What distances do they keep? Are these returning to normal after the crisis is over? What is the correlation to emissions decline? Noise pollution?” she asks.

“There are so many interesting questions, and we have the tools to answer them,” Šedivá continued. “You have the data, so let’s work together and build a unique dataset for the future. Everyone can feel the change. We want to measure it.”

To take part, participants in this ground-breaking project just need to upload their video footage to DataFromSky’s online service. When asked, agree to include footage in the dataset. “It’s as simple as that, and we will thank you by processing the whole video free of charge,” Šedivá explains. “The dataset is publicly available for everyone. You contribute the content, we contribute our acclaimed traffic analytics, and NVIDIA supports us with computational GPU AI power.”

DatafromSky’s invitation to all traffic researchers, engineers and individuals from around the world for recordings of traffic nodes and public spaces, has three main objectives: to document how things were prior to the Covid-19 outbreak; while the social distancing measures are in place; and after life returns to normal.

“We appeal to everyone to go through their archives and uncover hidden gems that can enrich the Covid-19 dataset,” says Šedivá. ”In that way, old traffic recordings will get a second life that can be turned into valuable traffic insights for a better future.”