WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched an artificial intelligence initiative aimed at reducing infrastructure costs, improving transportation efficiency and modernizing how roads, bridges and other transportation assets are designed, built and maintained.
The initiative is part of the White House’s Genesis Mission and will be carried out in partnership with the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation as part of a broader federal effort to apply artificial intelligence to infrastructure planning and operations.
The department said the program will focus on using AI to optimize transportation networks, shorten construction and maintenance timelines, extend infrastructure service life and expand predictive maintenance to reduce operating costs.
Officials also said the effort is intended to reduce urban congestion, improve freight movement and strengthen supply-chain performance.
The Transportation Department cited research from the National Bureau of Economic Research indicating that improvements in transportation efficiency generate a 2.3-times multiplier effect across the manufacturing and service sectors.
“We’re leveraging cutting-edge technologies to deliver a better travel experience for American families and stronger supply chains for businesses,” Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy stated.
Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology Seval Oz said advances in computing power now allow transportation systems to be analyzed as an integrated network, enabling artificial intelligence to improve infrastructure planning, operations and long-term asset management.
According to the department, the initiative’s objectives include increasing housing availability and affordability through more efficient infrastructure development, reducing construction and maintenance time, extending the lifespan of transportation assets, lowering operating costs through predictive maintenance, reducing traffic congestion and optimizing the nation’s transportation network.
The department did not announce funding levels, implementation timelines or specific projects associated with the initiative.
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