New York City’s Transit Tech Lab – a startup accelerator led by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the nonprofit Partnership for New York City – has announced the ten finalists for this year’s COVID-19 Recovery and Environmental Sustainability challenge. The winners will have eight weeks to run pilot projects in partnership with the MTA, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and NJ TRANSIT. The projects are required to either help the region’s transit systems recover from the additional stresses of the health crisis, or to improve the environment.
The transit system finalists include:
- Blyncsy – cataloging roadway infrastructure and conditions, including sidewalk markings, obstacles, and roadway deterioration to facilitate maintenance;
- Clarifai – using machine learning and computer vision software to identify track intrusions, unsafe behavior in stations, and passenger flows;
- Invision AI, Inc. – using existing cameras and AI vision systems to create a real-time 3D digital twin of a transit station;
- Quanergy – using LiDAR hardware paired with analytic software to provide a digital twin of any space, which can report unsafe behavior, offer object detection, and monitor passenger flow;
- Zensors Inc. – using artificial intelligence to capture data from existing hardware and cameras to provide operations visibility and address problems such as overcrowding and fare evasion.
The environmental sustainability finalists include:
- Gridmatrix – using software to interpret video footage on roads, enabling agencies to understand traffic patterns, unsafe intersections, and emission levels;
- Microgrid Labs Inc. – enabling planning for a fast and cost-effective transition to electric fleets through SaaS-based modeling, simulation, and optimisation software;
- Runwise Inc. – using wireless technology and web-based software to operate heating and water systems more efficiently in order to cut utility costs;
- StormSensor – providing cost-effective stormwater/climate-data and analytics to prevent flooding, simplify monitoring, and streamline maintenance and response; and
- The Mobility House – enabling intelligent integration of electric vehicles with the grid while minimizing charging costs.
“Public transit is the backbone of the tri-state economy, and its efficacy, safety and resilience are of paramount importance. The Transit Tech Lab is committed to providing cutting edge tools to restore riders’ confidence and support a sustainable future. Previous winners have deployed tools that improve service and the customer experience. We look forward to seeing the results of this year’s program,” said Natalia Quintero, Senior Vice President of Innovation at the Partnership for New York City.