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JEFF WELLIK: A lot of the people say
if you don't like the weather in Iowa, just wait 10 minutes.
It will change.
MATT PATTON: On a typical day, kids
will be traveling 10 or 12 miles to get to school.
As a school superintendent, my primary concern
is making sure that we get everybody to and from school
safely.
JEFF WELLIK: Normally, we get up about 4:30.
We go out and scan the roads.
Matt usually goes one direction.
I go the opposite.
MATT PATTON: As the road conditions change,
it's important for us to stay on top of knowing
what's happening out there.
The Iowa DOT has been very valuable to us.
BONNIE CASTILLO: The goal of the Department of Transportation
is to get travelers to their location efficiently
and safely.
We have operators continuously looking
at over 400 cameras and other data sources 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
It's very difficult to analyze all the different information
coming in.
TRACEY BRAMBLE: We're hoping to condense that data flow
and be able to analyze it much more quickly with help
from Iowa State.
NEAL HAWKINS: We're really excited to use
machine learning to address the operations of the road.
TensorFlow is helping us understand the traffic
patterns.
And with that information, we can
be better in alerting and being predictive.
TINGTING HUANG: Machine learning can automatically
check those images from the camera
to detect if a crash happens, and we can send the information
to traffic engineers.
TRACEY BRAMBLE: And if there's going
to be something that's going to impact your commute,
we want to get them that information as soon
as possible.
MATT PATTON: If technology could help us determine what's
occurring across the entire school district,
we'd make better decisions for our kids.
We wouldn't be up at 5 o'clock in the morning
driving the roads.
I would sleep in, to be honest with you.
NEAL HAWKINS: Machine learning has really
revolutionized the way we think about the data we have,
the connection we have to vehicles.
BONNIE CASTILLO: The Iowa roadways
are safer because of all the technology
we've been able to bring.
We're making travel more safe and efficient.
And so I only see that getting better.
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