Syllabus

GS 3: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Context: 

Ahmedabad police are setting up advanced surveillance systems to ensure the safety ahead of the 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra.

More on the News

• This system comes in the wake of recent stampedes in Bengaluru (Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL (indian premier league) victory celebration) and Prayagraj (Mahakumbh).

• For the first time, an AI-enabled system will be used for stampede avoidance during a major moving crowd event.

• Anti-stampede algorithms used in CCTV cameras are an important step forward in managing crowds. They use AI and image processing to detect and prevent dangerous situations in crowded places, helping to ensure public safety.

Technological Deployment

• The Gujarat Police (GP-DRASTI) Drone Programme will monitor moving crowds during the Rath Yatra.

• The Gujarat Police (GP-DRASTI) Drone Programme is a project designed to enhance police response time and improve public safety by utilizing drone technology.

• Along with this, a new AI-enabled software will be integrated into CCTV cameras and the drone system to help prevent stampedes by monitoring crowd movement in real-time.

• This software is still under development; the name has not yet been finalized. This system will measure how many people are present in a specific area. 

• Using certain parameters (still to be finalized), it will assess whether there is a risk of a stampede. If danger is detected, alerts will be sent to officers to manage and disperse the crowd.

Functionality of AI System

Benefits of the software

• Proactive Prevention: Alerts before stampedes occur.

• Real-Time Insights: Accurate crowd density data beyond manual monitoring.

• Enhanced Safety: Reduces human error and enables timely intervention.

• Optimised Resource Allocation: Security forces can be deployed where needed most.

• Improved Efficiency: Automates crowd monitoring, reducing manpower load.

• Future Planning: Data collected can help improve planning for future events.

Challenges

• Limited Accuracy: Issues with occlusion, poor lighting, weather conditions, or biased training data.

• High Cost and Complexity: Requires expensive hardware and sophisticated software.

• Privacy and Ethical Issues: Continuous surveillance raises concerns about data misuse and privacy violations.

• Integration Difficulties: Combining AI systems with older CCTV infrastructure can be complex.

• Human Intervention Still Vital: AI alerts are only effective if backed by well-coordinated ground response.

• Threshold Definition: Difficult to determine acceptable crowd density levels for diverse urban environments.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing public safety during large-scale religious or cultural events in India. Highlight the potential benefits and challenges associated with its deployment, with reference to the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad.