NSF AI grant $1.25M: AI analysis of body-worn camera footage to study and improve traffic stops (S&CC)

The NSF awarded about $1,250,000 to develop AI tools that analyze body-worn camera footage to study and improve traffic stops (NSF Award 2531357; program: Smart & Connected Communities; California).

Per the abstract, police traffic stops are common, complex interactions that can be a tool to improve public safety or escalate to violence. Effective communication is crucial for officer and civilian safety, enforcing the law, and building public trust. The project develops AI tools enabling researchers to analyze footage from officers' body-worn cameras, learn about officer–driver communication, and refine best practices for traffic-stop outcomes.

To do so, it draws on collaborative research capacity built among academic researchers, the Los Angeles Police Department, and over a dozen community organizations. The multidisciplinary, community-engaged approach ensures the AI tools reflect a wide range of viewpoints and address stakeholders' concerns. The tools are trained on assessments created by individuals from varied backgrounds, including retired police officers and Angelenos with a mix of past positive and negative experiences with police. After development, the tools can be used by police departments and local governments nationwide to lower costs and enhance transparency, accountability, and learning. The project advances computer, social, and engineering science by developing video language models that incorporate multiple stakeholder perspectives and infrastructure for collaborative AI development.