Arcadis
Arcadis is the world’s leading company delivering intelligence-driven sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. We are more than 36,000 architects, data analysts, designers, engineers, traffic engineers and planners, water management and sustainability experts, spread across 70+ countries, all driven by our passion for improving quality of life.
The solution:
SANKALP is an integrated solution for crowd management, combining spatial analytics, real time monitoring and actionable intelligence for safer and efficient movement of crowd. This innovative approach not only manages the entire lifecycle of large events (Pre-During & Post) but also empowers both citizens and the administration to make timely, informed decisions.
CITYDATA.ai
CITYDATA.ai is a Silicon Valley-based big data and AI company that creates mobility digital twins for cities and districts worldwide.
The solution:
To address the growing transportation challenges in Varanasi in India, CITYDATA.ai in partnership with Nippon Koei is implementing its cutting-edge CITYFLOW solution. This innovative big-data platform goes beyond traditional methods by leveraging a powerful combination of real-time sensor data, crowdsourced mobility information, and city-wide movement simulations. CITYFLOW empowers authorities to optimise traffic flow, improve public transit efficiency, and enhance safety for residents. Notably, the platform predicts and mitigates overcrowding scenarios during both natural and human-caused events, ensuring a more resilient transportation system. Designed for scalability, CITYFLOW paves the way for smarter traffic management across India’s rapidly growing urban centers.
Fractual
Fractal (www.fractal.ai) is a global provider of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics solutions to Fortune® 500 companies. Fractal’s vision is to power every human decision in the enterprise, and bring AI, engineering, and design to help the world’s most admired companies.
The solution:
Our solution approaches integrates behavioural science, data science, and human-centred design to tackle overcrowding challenges unique to cities like Varanasi. Through a research-led process —spanning problem discovery, ideation, and testing—we aim to develop an adaptive and data-driven solution that addresses pain points for both supply and demand-side stakeholders. With the aim to design for inclusivity and sustainability, the solution will focus on alleviating overcrowding, particularly for the elderly and differently abled populations, while equipping local authorities with agile tools to monitor, respond, and create lasting impact.
Graymatics
An emerging global leader in Vision AI and Video Analytics partner to major companies such as Dell, HPE, Intel, Nvidia, BSNL, Huawei, Microsoft, AWS, Airtel, and several System Integrators. Founded in 2011, Graymatics operates in 15+ countries on 5 continents, with offices in Singapore, India, USA, Chile, and UK. Our founding team comprises top domain experts from Stanford, UC Berkeley, and USC.
The solution:
Our cognitive multimedia processing platform leverages deep AI to pioneer real-time crowd and safety insights to democratise public infrastructure, mobility, and connectivity for citizens & tourists. Our app features culturally relevant hotspots and intersections to ease navigation for visitors and residents, while connecting them with incentives at local businesses and events if they choose less crowded routes. For authorities, our privacy-preserving analytics provide continuous alerts on crowd flow, anomalous behaviour, safety incidents, and predictive analytics to prevent accidents.
Intpixel Labs Private Limited
VOGIC AI from Intpixel Labs Private Limited is dedicated to transforming physical spaces into safer, smarter, and more efficient environments by harnessing the power of visual data. Through advanced AI-driven video analytics and Vision Language Models (VLMs), we extract actionable insights from real-time and historical video feeds, enabling precise decision-making and enhanced situational awareness.
The solution:
Our solution uses Video Analytics, Vision Language GenAI models, dynamic signage, public announcements, and multilingual WhatsApp communication to better manage crowds and enhance safety of visitors and locals in Kashi. It supports local businesses with targeted ads and offers, providing real-time guidance, incentives, and Visual Intelligence Decision Support System for authorities while respecting the city’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
Prameya Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
Prameya Consulting Pvt. Ltd. is an urban planning and strategy firm that aims to drive urban transformation through collaborative problem-solving and strategic planning. Guided by the meaning of ‘Prameya’ as a hypothesis based on knowledge, we strive to build thriving communities, economies, and cities by translating analysis into action. Working in India and the USA with a holistic approach that integrates data, people, and places, we help cross-sector clients tackle challenges, make informed decisions, and fulfil their objectives.
The solution:
NayiChaal is a data-driven ecosystem that facilitates information exchange between various stakeholders in Varanasi—empowering them to make informed decisions by having access to real-time actionable data. Our solution integrates digital tools with tactical, on-ground urbanism, harnessing their impact to catalyse long-term public space enhancement and inclusive urban development.
SmartViz
SmartViz is a pioneering technology firm reshaping the landscape of data-driven and human-centric environments in buildings and cities. Leveraging our advanced digital twin technology powered by IoT sensors and a unique human behaviour modelling engine, SmartViz provides comprehensive 3D visualisations and scenario planning capability. This allows clients to virtually experience their facilities in real-time, analyse performance, and optimise design and operations of these spaces. Our team’s experience includes some of the world’s most iconic venues and events – including Maha Kumbh in Nashik, Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah, Heathrow Airport in London and Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
The solution:
SmartViz’s innovative solution leverages 3D lidar sensors and machine learning for real-time pedestrian monitoring to optimise management of buildings, campuses and cities. Unlike traditional systems, we offer a camera-free, accurate monitoring solution for crowd flow monitoring in real-time. Presented as a dynamic, interactive and intuitive ‘digital twin’, the SmartViz platform presents the data with predictive modelling and scenario planning to help city authorities make proactive decisions. Built with 20 years’ experience by Dr. Shrikant Sharma – a leading authority in crowd management, our solution can integrate with traffic and air quality datasets, empowering city authorities to manage crowd safety effectively.
Steer
Steer is an employee-owned consultancy, working worldwide in planning and design for transportation and movement. We believe that major events have the power to create positive, long-lasting connections between people, places and organisations. People’s journey to and from the event is a vital part of the experience, influencing their behaviour, spending and future attendance. Transport sets the mood and leaves the final taste. Our dedicated Sports and Major Events team work with venue designers, venue operators, event organisers, transport operators and city authorities to deliver efficient, sustainable and safe transport for venues and events, whilst minimising impact on the local area, to achieve the best possible value for money and to maximise legacy benefit.
The solution:
Building on our modelling for unticketed major public events in London, Steer will develop and deploy a crowd dynamics model for the city of Varanasi to provider deeper and greater insight into crowd movements helping city officials and partner agencies plan for upcoming events.
Urbanizer
The Urbanizer is a pioneering urban design, landscape design, and architecture firm based on India. We specialise in creating vibrant, sustainable urban spaces through a data-driven and human-centric approach that enhances the quality of life for communities. Our multidisciplinary team leverages technological innovation to deliver impactful, inclusive design solutions that shape the future of urban environments.
The solution:
JanJaatra revolutionises crowd management in Varanasi through an intelligent color-coding system paired with real-time digital navigation. This innovative solution combines biodegradable wearables, dynamic routing, and gamification to transform chaotic foot traffic into organised flow patterns while also contributing to the local economy. By integrating traditional values with smart technology, JanJaatra enhances both the pilgrim exerience and local commerce.
Tiami Networks
Tiami Networks is a B2B and B2G deep-tech startup founded in 2022 after successfully completing the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) Foundry accelerator. Specializing in 5G advanced sensing and communication technologies, Tiami Networks develops innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and address complex challenges in dynamic environments.
The solution:
Our flagship product, PolyEdge™, leverages signals of opportunity (SoOp), such as 5G and Wi-Fi, to provide real-time detection, tracking, and analytics without relying on dedicated emitters. This passive radar technology minimises infrastructure requirements, making it highly scalable and cost-effective for urban and densely populated areas. For the crowd management challenge in Varanasi, India, PolyEdge™ offers the capability to monitor and manage large-scale pedestrian and vehicular movements in real time. Using AI-driven analytics and adaptive signal processing, the system can track crowd densities, identify bottlenecks, and provide actionable insights to optimize flow and enhance safety. Designed for seamless integration with existing infrastructure, PolyEdge™ empowers cities like Varanasi to address mobility challenges while maintaining cultural heritage and public safety.
