Awesome Project

in Bangalore. Details here

Some excerpts

Yet it is from here that a quiet revolution in urban traffic management and planning has begun. Of Bangalore’s 380 traffic junctions, 180 are now fitted with 360-degree dome cameras. Each of these can be controlled remotely, has a line of sight of 1km, sports night vision, and is weatherproof. The cameras are hard-wired to the Ashok Nagar servers using fiber optic lines. A “cockpit” of LCD screens at the police station’s command centre shows junctions categorized into zones. Constables assigned to each of these zones can read number plates to assign penalty tickets to vehicles that violate rules. Back-end processes integrated with the transport department data print and mail violation letters with links to photographic evidence.

These remotely manoeuvrable cameras at major traffic junctions form one leg of a vast new information network. The second leg is a parsed cellphone tower information that generates a teledensity “heat-map” of traffic movement in the city. The third comes from city buses fitted with GPS devices that indicate speed and congestion on arterial roads. These three sources together create an integrated view of live traffic conditions in the city. Rs50 crore in traffic penalties generated in one year pays for the initial investment, and more.

Interesting take

on the Raja corruption issue by retributions here

The same equation may be at play here. The case the Congress party is making to the middle class voter is simple: “Look, we are against corruption. We are ready to act against the corrupt in our own party. We would have acted against A Raja only if we did not need his party’s support. Next time, make sure we don’t need the support of such elements.” It won’t be surprising that instances like A Raja may actually result in Congress emerging with a larger majority in 2014. The Congress party deserves praise for transforming weakness and victim hood in to a successful political formula.  Now, it is possible that a relentless opposition, constant media spotlight, and legal compulsions force the resignation of Mr. Raja but it is hard to see any political downside to his continuation in the cabinet.

McGill University

I have joined McGill University as an Assistant Professor. Suddenly, I have moved to the other side of the spectrum. The transition should be fun and hectic at the same time. I hope to enjoy the transition while contributing to my area of research.

The move to Montreal so far has been smooth. Lots of furniture assembling and running around. I have settled into my apartment.

Lets see how the move turns out.