Southern Indiana Business Report
A company that uses AI and solar power to gather traffic pattern data is improving the availability of analytics with a portable device.
Skylark Labs, based in San Francisco and with an assembly location in Lawrence County, recently deployed its Scout Towers in Daviess County where a private development firm is using them to collect data.
A press release from Skylark Labs explained the Scout Tower addresses challenges in transportation monitoring by delivering continuous, adaptive intelligence that learns from traffic patterns, weather conditions and infrastructure changes. The system’s ability to provide actionable insights enables transportation departments to optimize traffic flow, identify maintenance needs, and proactively address safety concerns before they escalate into critical issues.
Skylark Labs CEO Amarjot Singh said Scout Towers can be deployed to any location. And unlike fixed cameras, the towers can be moved easily to other locations.
“What this system does is it looks at traffic flow patterns, how much traffic at what time of day, is it going northbound or southbound?” Singh said.
Because the Scout Towers run on solar power, they can be used in locations where there may not be access to electricity. Setting up a Scout Tower takes about two hours.
Skylark Labs established a location in Fayetteville and one in Bedford about a year ago, Singh said. A team of about seven employees builds the Scout Towers. Singh said his company was familiar with southern Indiana through its work with CACI, a defense contractor, and having a presence in Lawrence County has been advantageous.
“Everyone there was incredibly helpful and made sure everything we were trying to do worked. People have been very helpful,” he said. “That was really nice because you don’t really get that in New York and San Francisco.”
The Scout Towers are not limited to collecting traffic data. Singh said the towers have been deployed along the US-Mexican border to detect illegal border crossings. Private landowners have used them to watch for trespassers or monitor livestock.
Key capabilities of the Scout Tower
- Comprehensive traffic pattern analysis and prediction
- Safety risk assessment and early warning systems
- Weather-adaptive traffic management insights
- Multi-corridor simultaneous monitoring capabilities
- Integration with existing transportation management systems
“Our system provides transportation officials with the critical intelligence they need to make informed decisions about traffic management, infrastructure maintenance, and public safety,” Singh said.