Generosity. It’s what’s missing from too many interpersonal relationships today, and it’s missing from our relationships to brands. Therefore, there’s opportunity in generosity.
Playing in the brand utility sandbox, cross-cultural creative agency the community came up with Bridge Forecast, a first-of-its-kind system that monitors drawbridges in real time to inform commuters of potential traffic delays.
Unveiled in partnership with Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables, this smart technology leverages computer vision and machine learning to predict and convey when Miami’s three major drawbridges along the Miami River will rise.
By monitoring boat traffic and drawbridge openings using Computer Vision technology, the community created an understanding of bridge behavior. Then using machine learning, the agency took the behavioral data and began predicting openings in various time intervals. The system then conveys the information to commuters, allowing them to seek alternate routes and avoid traffic congestion.
“Knowing when a bridge is up is helpful but the gamechanger is predicting when it will go up,” said Raphael Franzini, Creative Director at the community. “The more people using it, the better we believe traffic will be. This is why we opened up our API for all to use.”
“Bridge Forecast started like an infant and, as its brain grew, it became a bridge expert,” said Chris Neff, Senior Director of Innovation at the community. “This brain fuels our forecast but we hope other navigation apps will adopt it as well.”
Recognizing the value Bridge Forecast would bring to commuters, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables has partnered with the community to launch the system and promote it with its customers.
“Mercedes-Benz represents the best in safety and technology,” said Greg Barnes, President of Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables. “It’s beyond exciting to be part of something so forward- thinking that will enhance the driving experience and have an immediate positive impact on so many in our community.”
