SGA Rolls Out AI Cameras at Key Intersections
- monique.kuhn
- Apr 29
- 3 min read
Shaping a Smarter, Safer Future for South Australia
Safe, smart, and simple — that’s the future of road safety in South Australia, thanks to the recent rollout of AI-powered traffic camera systems by SAFEgroup Automation (SGA) in partnership with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT).
From state newsrooms to national headlines, the rollout caught attention for all the right reasons.
Why? Because it marked a new chapter in traffic control in Australia.
Featured in:
See the Premier of SA’s official release:
Why AI Cameras?
Traffic congestion in South Australia costs the economy an estimated $33,000 for every 5,000 motorists delayed by just 20 minutes. Traditional infrastructure upgrades can be slow and costly.
SGA’s AI-powered solution offered a smarter alternative — using real-time traffic detection and smart signal control to tackle congestion and improve road safety without major construction.
Key benefits already seen include:
Smoother traffic flow and reduced congestion.
Safer merging and reduced collision risk at high-risk sites like Heaslip Road, Paradise, Penfield, and Old Noarlunga.
Cost savings by making smarter use of existing infrastructure.
How Does it Work - The Heaslip Rd’s Implementation
Vehicles exiting the Northern Expressway onto the Heaslip Road roundabout often faced long delays and risky merges, causing traffic to back up the ramp and spill onto the expressway.
🔍 1. Detect:
Bosch AI cameras were installed overlooking the North and South bound ramps, continuously monitoring vehicle movement, build-up, and flow in real time.
🔍 2. Process:
When congestion builds on either ramps, the AI system detects queuing, classifies vehicle types, and calculates traffic density. This information is fed into STREAMS and SCATS traffic control platforms and sent to DIT’s Traffic Management Centre (TMC), enabling live oversight and smart signal decision-making.
🔍 3. Respond:
Traffic lights at the roundabout are dynamically adjusted - briefly holding roundabout flow to allow safer merging to and from the ramps , easing pressure on the expressway.
Beyond Heaslip Road: Expanding Safer Intersections
Following the success at Heaslip Road, SGA’s AI solution has been rolled out to other key sites facing unique challenges, including:
Penfield: Managing blocked right-hand turn lanes.
Paradise: Easing mid-block congestion.
Old Noarlunga: Prioritising bus and pedestrian flows.
The flexibility of SGA’s AI detection means the same system can be adapted across different sites — from expressway ramps to shopping precincts and school zones — wherever real-time, responsive traffic management is needed.
As Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport put it:
“They’ll save lives, they’ll save time, and they’ll save money.”
A Note on Data Privacy
Public trust is always a top priority.
SGA’s system was built to meet strict government standards for data privacy and cybersecurity, ensuring real-time AI processing could operate safely across South Australia's public infrastructure.
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