Live pilot in Georgia smart city showcases groundbreaking advancements in pedestrian safety and roadway technology
Peachtree Corners — one of the nation’s first smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G — has announced a collaboration for a pilot project with ConnVAS, an innovator in advanced traffic and pedestrian safety solutions.
The pilot launched outside of Pinckneyville Middle School, addresses the safety challenges of busy crosswalks by testing how real-time, AI-driven detection can reduce accidents and create a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers by activating alerts, even when pedestrians do not activate crosswalk signals.
An AI-driven computing system
The pilot utilizes ConnVAS’s MAGIC (Multi-Access Generic Infrastructure Controller), AI-driven edge computing system, which incorporates cameras mounted on RRFB poles (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon) to monitor pedestrian and vehicle movement, V2X transceivers for real-time vehicle-to-infrastructure communication and an integrated audio-visual alert system.
photo courtesy of City of Peachtree Corners and ConnVAS
When the system detects a pedestrian or cyclist using the crosswalk, crossing outside of the crosswalk lines or a vehicle approaching the crosswalk, each of its technologies work together in real time to immediately activate alerts to both the users of the crosswalk and incoming drivers — even if the pedestrians did not press the crosswalk buttons.
The system also continually collects anonymous data such as felonies, near-misses and pedestrian and vehicle counts for ongoing analysis of crosswalk usage and traffic.
“Peachtree Corners is dedicated to implementing technology solutions that address real-world safety challenges for our residents,” said Brandon Branham, executive director of Curiosity Lab.
“The ConnVAS system provides an innovative solution to common safety hazards such as pedestrians crossing outside of designated areas, failure to press crosswalk buttons and drivers failing to detect pedestrians or cyclists in time,” he continued.
photo courtesy of City of Peachtree Corners and ConnVAS
“By integrating advanced AI detection and real-time alerts, this ConnVAS pilot enhances safety in an area where our residents need it the most today, while also generating actionable insights that can guide our development of smarter, more responsive infrastructure in the future. We are excited to be continuing the pilot program to continue to gain insights in how we can improve our city for our residents.”
Collecting data and observing patterns
Preliminary results from the pilot program that were extracted from a midweek 72-hour period, show distinct patterns that can better help city managers ensure roadways are safe and efficient for VRUs (vulnerable road users) and drivers.
At the pilot location, ConnVAS reported over 220 pedestrian crossings for more than 70 crossing events, with only three false alarms. The system consistently and successfully activated flashing beacons and audio alerts in real time, ensuring those crossing the road and oncoming drivers were promptly warned.
Additionally, traffic data collected by the system is being used to evaluate the technology’s impact and will aid city officials in making informed decisions about improving road safety and urban planning in specific locations.
photo courtesy of City of Peachtree Corners and ConnVAS
“The pilot we are conducting in Peachtree Corners has been instrumental in refining our technology and demonstrating its impact in a real-world environment,” said Danny Frydman, founder and CEO of ConnVAS. “Through continuous testing and data analysis, we’ve been able to improve the accuracy of our system’s AI detection, ensuring faster and more reliable activation of alerts. This has directly enhanced the safety of the area by addressing critical challenges, including missed warnings for pedestrians and cyclists or delayed driver awareness.”
“The insights gained from this pilot are helping us evolve the software to adapt to complex traffic scenarios and create safer, smarter intersections everywhere,” Frydman added. “We hope to scale this solution throughout the city as the pilot and technology continues to develop.”
Evaluating features
The ConnVAS pilot in Peachtree Corners is continuing to evaluate various features, including autonomous operation features that eliminate the need for manual button presses and reduce false alarms, cyclist-friendly designs and V2X connectivity to communicate with connected vehicles to alert drivers of crosswalk activity.
Additional capabilities such as dynamic illumination based on pedestrian location are also being explored to further enhance VRU safety.
About ConnVAS
ConnVAS is an innovator in advanced traffic and pedestrian safety solutions. At the core of ConnVAS solutions is the ConnVAS MAGIC — an AI-driven edge computing traffic detector. The MAGIC stands at the heart of ConnVAS enhanced RRFB, intelligent signalized intersection and traffic analytics solutions.
Providing edge computing solutions that include AI detection, V2X communication and diverse interfaces, ConnVAS enhances the safety and efficiency of the transportation environment.
The City of Peachtree Corners has a lot of great events planned for 2025. From the return of concerts and flicks on the Town Green, to holiday happenings, ongoing classes and community fun, you’ll find it here!
For the eighth year in a row, the City of Peachtree Corners has been esteemed with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This award was presented by the Georgia Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the City’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget submission.
The award represents a significant achievement by the entity. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. To receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a:
policy document
financial plan
operations guide
communications device
Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award.
Certificate of Recognition
When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual(s) or department designated as being primarily responsible for having achieved the award.
“Congratulations to the entire finance team on receiving this award,” said City Manager Brian Johnson.
“This recognition is a testament to our team’s hard work, professionalism and commitment to excellence.”
There are over 1,700 participants in the Budget Awards Program. The most recent Budget Award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA’s website.
Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.
About the GFOA
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources and practical research for more than 21,000 members and the communities they serve.
About the City of Peachtree Corners, Georgia
As the heart of what is being called #SiliconOrchard in the metro Atlanta region, Peachtree Corners is a vibrant municipality that’s home to more than 45,000 residents and an innovation hub that houses some of the world’s most disruptive technology companies.
As the United States’ premier smart city powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G, Peachtree Corners serves as the model for how government and private industry can better collaborate to create a better future for society and business.
From the world’s first deployment of teleoperated e-scooters to fully autonomous shuttles being utilized by actual residents, and from a solar roadway to the largest electric vehicle charging hub in the region, Peachtree Corners is where the most future-forward Internet of Things (IoT) and sustainable technologies come to life for the benefit of its people and the world.
The easy-to-use, online calendar, designed to enhance resident engagement and connectivity, will launch January 20.
The City of Peachtree Corners has announced the launch of its new, innovative community calendar, designed to foster greater connectivity, inclusivity and engagement among residents, businesses and community organizations.
This cutting-edge tool offers a personalized approach to community involvement by allowing users to register and receive tailored notifications about events that matter most to them.
Submitting events
Another exciting function of the new online calendar is that it will allow businesses, nonprofits and members of the community to add their own public events.
Is your business planning an event that’s open to the public? Submit it to the calendar. Is your favorite entertainment spot hosting an open mic night? Submit it to the calendar. Is your animal shelter having a pet adoption? Submit it to the calendar.
“We are thrilled to introduce a platform that not only informs our residents about upcoming events but also encourages them to participate more actively in community life,” said Louis Svehla, director of communications and public affairs. “The community calendar reflects our commitment to ensuring that Peachtree Corners remains a vibrant and welcoming place for everyone.”
Key features of the calendar
Personalized event notifications: Registered users can select their areas of interest — ranging from entertainment events to city council and commission meetings — and receive timely notifications tailored to their preferences.
User-submitted events: Businesses, residents, non-profits and community leaders are invited to contribute to the calendar by submitting their own events. This feature ensures a diverse and comprehensive listing of events around the city.
Event registration: Each listed event will offer the opportunity for users to register for the event. This registration allows the posting party to see who will be attending.
Event search functionality: Do you like certain events? Looking for something tailored to children, concerts or government meetings? The calendar allows you to filter events by event type as well as audience type.
How to register
Signing up is simple. Residents, businesses and organizations can visit the online calendar page to create an account and customize their event preferences. Once registered, users can begin receiving notifications and submitting events right away.
“Our goal is to make Peachtree Corners a more connected community where everyone has access to events that inspire, educate and entertain,” said City Manager Brian Johnson. “We encourage all residents and community members to sign up and be part of this exciting new initiative.”
The launch of the community calendar marks another significant step in Peachtree Corners’ ongoing efforts to leverage technology to enhance the quality of life for its residents. The city invites everyone to explore this dynamic new resource and take advantage of the opportunities it offers.
As the heart of what is being called the Silicon Orchard in the metro Atlanta region, Peachtree Corners is a vibrant municipality that’s home to more than 45,000 residents, 45,000 jobs and an innovation hub that houses some of the world’s most disruptive technology companies.
As the United States’ premier smart city powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G, Peachtree Corners serves as the model for how government and private industry can collaborate to create a better future for society and business.
From the world’s first deployment of teleoperated e-scooters to fully autonomous shuttles being utilized by actual residents, and from a solar roadway to the largest electric vehicle fast-charging hub in the region, Peachtree Corners is where the future-forward Internet of Things (IoT) and sustainable technologies come to life for the benefit of its citizens and the world.