An assistant professor from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal has been recognised for a pioneering research project aimed at tackling India's crippling urban traffic problems. Dr Sourav Kanti Addya from the department of computer science and engineering was honoured for his SPARC project at a high-profile bilateral education council meeting in New Delhi.
SmartX: A Vision for Smarter, Safer Roads
The project, titled 'SmartX: Predictive Edge Intelligence for Urban Traffic Flow,' has been sanctioned with a substantial total funding of Rs 1.2 crore and will run for a duration of two years. It seeks to develop intelligent traffic management solutions by leveraging the power of predictive edge computing.
India's urban road networks are under immense strain due to unprecedented vehicle growth. This has resulted in severely congested intersections and a high frequency of accidents, posing daily risks to millions of commuters. The crisis is further amplified by unsafe driving behaviours and outdated traffic infrastructure that struggles to keep pace with modern demands.
To address this critical challenge, the SmartX project proposes a transformative framework for predicting vehicle trajectories. This innovative approach aims to fundamentally reimagine how traffic is managed at signalised intersections, moving from reactive to proactive control.
International Collaboration and High-Profile Recognition
The research is a collaborative international effort. The project is led in collaboration with Prof Salil Kanhere from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, who serves as the principal investigator from Australia. The team also includes Sandip Chakraborty, an associate professor from IIT Kharagpur, and Kanchana Thilakarathna from the University of Sydney, both acting as co-principal investigators.
Dr Addya received the official sanction letter and a commemorative plaque from Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Australia's Minister for Education, Jason Clare. The presentation took place during the third meeting of the Australia–India Education and Skills Council (AIESC).
A Boost for India-Australia Research Ties
A key highlight of the meeting was the announcement of 10 new SPARC-funded collaborative research projects between India and Australia. These projects span cutting-edge areas including:
- Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Technologies
- Biodiversity and Sustainability
- MedTech and Smart Mobility
- Space Research
A total of Rs 9.8 crores (approximately AU$ 1.6 million) has been sanctioned for this new batch of projects. This addition further strengthens the SPARC initiative, under which 129 out of a total 865 projects now involve top Australian universities. The combined financial value of these Indo-Australian collaborations has reached an impressive AU$ 16 million, signalling deep and growing research ties between the two nations.
