Engineering Researchers Develop AI System to Improve Intersection Safety
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Engineering researchers at Florida A&M University and Florida State University are developing innovative technology to make traffic intersections safer by applying artificial intelligence and predictive analytics.
A team from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, the joint college for Florida A&M and Florida State universities, is exploring how existing technology combined with new algorithms can prevent potential crashes at intersections, potentially saving thousands of lives annually.
“Millions of vehicles move through intersections every day. Our goal is to make that process safer,” said Olugbenga Moses Anubi, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and research team member.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately 25% of traffic deaths and half of all traffic injuries in the United States occur at intersections.
Advanced Predictive Technology
The team’s solution, called PREDISS (Predictive Intersection Safety System), combines data-driven analytics with physics-based methods to improve road safety. The system operates through four key phases: identify, predict, anticipate, and warn/mitigate.
With initial funding awarded in 2024, the researchers utilized existing collision data and autonomous vehicle systems to develop an algorithm capable of predicting vehicle trajectories and identifying potential conflicts. PREDISS employs sensors, cameras, wireless technology and artificial intelligence to track vehicles and pedestrians approaching an intersection, enabling real-time prediction of trajectories and identification of potential conflicts.
The research team is now advancing to the anticipation phase of the project.
In collaboration with the City of Tallahassee’s Regional Transportation Management Center, the team will install PREDISS at a live traffic intersection to monitor real-time conditions. This implementation will generate scenarios for testing algorithms and help researchers refine predictive models and develop proactive safety measures.
“We’re taking existing tools and applying them in creative ways to help solve this problem,” said project member Ren Moses, a FAMU-FSU College of Engineering professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Ren Moses and Olugbenga Moses Anubi
Research Team and Partnerships
Anubi and Moses are collaborating with Paul Bupe Jr., a research faculty member dedicated to PREDISS, and Joshua Hollingsworth, manager of traffic operations for the City of Tallahassee.
The partnership with the city enables researchers to collect data from real-world scenarios, helping to validate their algorithms and ensure the system can manage the unpredictable challenges of busy intersections.
“Our cooperation with the city is a great example of how researchers can partner with outside collaborators and stakeholders to meet shared goals,” Anubi said. “This testing really accelerates the process of making PREDISS into a working system that can be used anywhere to improve traffic safety.”
Recognition and Funding
This research represents the second stage in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Intersection Safety Challenge. After winning Stage 1A of the 2024 U.S. Department of Transportation’s Intersection Safety Challenge, the team has secured the 2025 Stage 1B tier II prize. These achievements have brought in $266,666 in funding to advance their project, which integrates AI-driven technology with physics to enhance road safety.
“We are grateful to be in Florida, where the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) invests heavily in smart traffic management systems, such as traffic cameras, real-time traffic data and intelligent transportation systems to reduce congestion and improve safety,” Anubi said. “We hope to partner with FDOT in making our roadways, intersections and traffic systems as safe as possible.”
Impact on Public Safety
Fatal crashes at intersections claimed more than 12,000 lives in 2022, the latest year for which data are available on the Federal Highway Administration website.
While redesigning intersections represents one approach to improving safety, such modifications are not feasible at every location. The PREDISS system offers a technological solution that can be implemented at existing intersections to enhance safety.
“Traveling our roadways should be as stress-free and safe as possible,” Anubi said. “The opportunity to help improve safety on roads where we live and where our family and friends travel nearly every day emphasizes the importance of this project.”
Contact Information:
Tisha Keller, Assistant Dean for Marketing & Communication
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
(850) 410-6495
tckeller@eng.famu.fsu.edu
www.eng.famu.fsu.edu
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