Lytx expands AI-powered geospatial solutions with weather alerts

Lytx Inc., a San Diego-based video safety and video telematics company, has rolled out its Weather Hazard Alerts, which is available to all clients as a project within the Lytx Lab tab in their accounts.

Weather Hazard Alerts, powered by new artificial intelligence-powered geospatial technology, allow fleet managers the option to get notifications based on geospatial criteria and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather data to facilitate real-time decision-making for safer and more efficient driving, Lytx says.

According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, of the roughly 5.8 million vehicle crashes each year, approximately 21 percent are related to adverse weather, which includes rain, sleet, snow, fog, wind and blowing debris. Additionally, over 70 percent of U.S. roads are located in regions that receive more than five inches of snow annually.

Lytx’s new Weather Hazard Alerts overlay NOAA weather warnings, including snow, thunderstorms, floods, tornados and more, onto fleet maps, allowing fleet managers to set alerts based on specific geographic, timeframe and weather criteria and be notified as weather conditions become more severe in that particular region.

“As trailblazers in geospatial intelligence, we are excited to present our customers with the power of our extensive data network combined with AI that understands context, enabling us to provide invaluable insights that enhance safety and promote operational excellence,” says Rajesh Rudraradhya, chief technology officer at Lytx. “Through the application of machine vision and artificial intelligence technology to analyze vehicle imagery from vehicles in hazardous conditions, we are actively progressing towards the creation of highly localized weather alerts, advancing our predictive intelligence to anticipate potential risks and proactively prevent accidents.”

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Weather Hazard Alerts can be filtered by geographic location, time frame and type of severe weather. Once the conditions are met, an alert is automatically sent to the fleet manager with a description of the event, an image on the map, how many vehicles may be impacted and when and where that weather event is forecast to occur.

Fleet managers can also view current images from across the Lytx network to see weather conditions in real time on specified routes.

“Weather Hazard Alerts give drivers and fleet managers another dynamic tool that can enhance overall fleet performance and driver safety,” says Dan Lambert, senior director of product management at Lytx. “The customer feedback we’ve received during our development program has allowed us to rapidly surface key insights that ultimately create safer environments for drivers, passengers and the public.”

The Weather Hazard Alerts feature is now available to all fleet managers within the U.S. Lytx network.

A separate component currently in testing phases with select clients within Lytx Lab is Driver Alerts, where drivers are directly notified via in-cab audio about weather alerts as they approach a hazardous area, helping them to more proactively re-route before impending and potentially unsafe weather.

Lytx will be on-hand at Booth 8025 at the American Trucking Association 2023 Management Conference & Exhibition from Oct. 14-17, in Austin, Texas, to discuss the announcement. The company will also be hosting a panel called “How Safety Impacts Your Entire Organization” at the event.