NWO grant for Human-Centred AI for crowd crisis response

A major challenge in crises is the combination of complexity, time pressure and moral decisions. AI has the potential to support crowd crises decisions, yet the increasing use of AI has led to a debate about the legal and ethical implications. To address these challenges, the AI-COMPASS consortium, led by TU Delft, develops real-time decision support systems, considering context, behaviour, and values. The project is financed by the Collaboration between Humans and (semi-)Autonomous systems programme of NWO.

Our cities are growing and so are the risks for crowd crises. Crowd crises jeopardize societal safety and security, putting lives at risk and causing enormous economic and societal damage. By working on two pilots in The Hague and Rotterdam, that address demonstrations, events, or busy beach days, the project AI-COMPASS connects insights on the interaction of people and AI with tool development.

Improving public safety

Being able to forecast crowdedness and the risks associated has been a major scientific and societal challenge. ‘This project, a fusion of our expertise in crowd dynamics, cutting-edge sensor technology, and advanced AI, aims to address this challenge head-on. Central to this exciting initiative is the development of innovative digital tools to optimise people’s safety. The tools will support planning and management of a wide range of events, planned and unplanned, while safeguarding privacy and avoiding bias’, says TU Delft professor Serge Hoogendoorn.

Professor Tina Comes of TU Delft: ‘Crises change human behaviour, decision making – and also the way humans work with AI. I am thrilled that in this project we make a step ahead in truly human-centred AI to improve public safety. I look forward to working with an excellent consortium with so many committed stakeholders and partners.’