Road safety NGO shares first update on the AI&Me program demonstrating that the app is on track to help young people report unsafe road conditions to their government and effectively prevent road crashes, a leading cause of death for young people globally and in Vietnam.
Following the successful launch of our newest big data program, AIP Foundation hosted a stakeholder meeting to provide the latest updates of AI&Me in Vietnam, a program which empowers young people to identify and report unsafe road conditions to the government for road modifications. The meeting welcomed Government representatives and provided insight into the program’s progress.
The progress highlights of the program include three signed Memorandum’s of understanding with local government in 3 provinces and in-depths interviews that have been conducted to identify the needs of youth. These results were shared with our partner, iRAP who is currently developing a youth engagement app (YEA) based on the needs assessment. We were also pleased to share that the big data analysis report with the methodology for assessing high risk schools has been completed. Based on the findings, iRAP and Anditi are now working on screening 1,200 schools in the three cities to select 106 high-risk schools.
Within the next year, upcoming program highlights include carrying out master training on the operation and results of the Big Data Screening for the local implementing partners. The YEA is expected to be ready for use by May 2022 and discussions will take place with governments for the selection of 18 schools to pilot the YEA. The YEA will provide greater awareness of road risks and an easy, exciting, accessible channel for youth to self-advocate, all with young people’s voices at the heart of the design.
In 2019, road crashes are the leading cause of death for at least 6,200 children and young adults aged 5-29 years globally. This represents a public health crisis that disproportionately affects young people most. Road upgrades, speed management, as well as enforcement of behavioral risk factors are needed to effectively address this crisis.
AIP Foundation’s three year AI&Me program, is supported by Fondation Botnar – a foundation which champions the use of AI and digital technologies to improve the wellbeing of young people in urban environments – as well as the FIA Foundation, Anditi, and iRAP.
Together we are developing a ‘youth engagement app’, to offer young people an efficient way to identify and report high-risk road conditions, providing them with a platform for their voices to be heard. Through the app, government officials will receive data as actionable recommendations to make effective and evidence-based road safety interventions.
“We’re pleased to be piloting the AI&Me program in Vietnam, where we’ll have the ability to utilize big datasets to transform the way we think, approach, and solve the road crisis to eventually expand to other countries. The AI&Me program has the potential to inspire young people across the world to become road safety activists bridging the gap between big data science and public health and we’re looking to help get them there every step of the way,” Mirjam Sidik, AIP Foundation CEO told Vietnam Insider.
In recent years, big data technology has been utilized to transform road safety through predictive analysis by evaluating historical data to pinpoint high-risk areas. These maps enable authorities to take preventative measures before casualties happen. The AI&Me program revolutionizes road safety measures in Vietnam, paving the way for emerging technologies to address public health issues.
“At Fondation Botnar, we believe that AI and digital technologies provide solutions that can both address the needs of an entire generation while futureproofing our health systems. The AI&Me program will help demonstrate the many potential benefits and uses that AI has in public health, through the engagement of the youth population. By launching this program in Vietnam, we hope it will become a wider catalyst for change, across other regions and countries and will reach as many young people as possible. The AI&Me program will unveil the many potentials that AI has in public health,” said Siddharta Jha, AI/Digital program manager of Swiss-based Fondation Botnar.
