Latest news with #Drobot
Hamilton Spectator
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Burlington Skyway lane closures scheduled again this weekend
Burlington Skyway lane closures are scheduled again this weekend. By the end of the week, the City of Burlington expects a response from Ontario's Ministry of Transportation on outstanding requests to help deal with local traffic issues resulting from lane closures over several weekends this summer. The scheduled closure of two Skyway bridge QEW Niagara-bound lanes from 10 p.m. on Friday, June 20 to 5 a.m. Monday, June 23 is part of a project to rehabilitate the bridge. Work includes removal and replacement of asphalt and waterproofing, and concrete repairs. After a closure over Mother's Day weekend in May apparently contributed to severe traffic congestion in several of Burlington's major corridors, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward wrote a letter to Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria with four requests to help Burlington deal with effects of the work: Roman Drobot, a spokesperson for the mayor's office, said on Tuesday, June 17, the city expected a response by the end of the week to three requests that remained outstanding — public notice of all closures in advance, signage at on-ramps and funding traffic patrols as needed. 'Only one weekend at a time is currently listed on (Ministry of Transportation information website) 511,' Drobot said. He said city staff were working with ministry staff on mitigation methods and the ministry had taken some action, with additional signage on the QEW. 'We are grateful because that reduced traffic impact (the weekend of June 6-9) during the closures,' Drobot said. The city has previously confirmed its staff have been provided an unofficial list of the weekend closures, which included four additional ones after this weekend's closures. The lane closures involve two Niagara-bound lanes at a time, with two other lanes in the same direction remaining open. Ministry staff did not respond to requests for comment by deadline. Const. Jeff Dillon, Halton Regional Police Services spokesperson, confirmed local traffic units are aware of lane closures scheduled June 20-23. 'There aren't any special, or specific, traffic responses planned, however our officers will respond to any traffic concerns that may arise,' Dillon said. Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said the Ontario Provincial Police's Highway Safety Division is aware of two previous weekends of lane closures and more planned for July and August, and resulting traffic delays. 'We ensure officers are nearby to respond to calls quickly, if and when they arise,' Schmidt said. According to a notice posted by the City of Burlington, the closure could impact Burlington Transit bus service and users should check MyRide for real time bus information. For more information and updates, go to the city's website and the province's 511 information page . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine to establish AI-assisted demining test site
Ukraine has begun developing a testing site for the use of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies in mine action. Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Defence Details: The Defence Ministry and its partners have identified a location for a testing ground dedicated to demining technologies. Representatives of the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety, the United Nations Development Programme, the Ministry of Economy, and the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries visited the site to discuss its potential use for testing cutting-edge demining solutions. "This marks the initial step in a strategic initiative to establish an innovative testing site. Together with our partners, we have identified key areas for further efforts and decided to establish a training and testing complex for developing cutting-edge mine action technologies. This facility will not only drive technology modernisation but also serve as a repository for innovative solutions," said Olha Drobot, the Main Directorate of Mine Action representative. The Defence Ministry noted that the UN Development Programme and the Ministry of Economy expressed interest in developing the project as a key platform for humanitarian demining innovations. The next steps include creating a roadmap, forming a working group and preparing for initial tests. Drobot said that, as reported before, the advancement of modern technologies significantly accelerates non-technical land surveys and humanitarian demining while reducing risks for civilians. Experts also plan to implement new approaches for analysing satellite and aerial images to map mined areas, use neural networks for automatic minefield detection, and integrate AI algorithms into demining planning and safety processes. Background: In 2024, the Ministry of Economy signed an agreement with Palantir, a technology company specialising in big data analytics, to assist in demining efforts using AI. At that time, Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko stated that 156,000 square kilometres of land were potentially contaminated with explosives, putting over 6 million Ukrainians at risk. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Defense Ministry building testing ground for new AI-powered demining tech
The Defense Ministry is initiating the creation of a trial site to test new technologies used in demining, including those involving artificial intelligence, according to a statement published Feb. 11. Over 139,300 square kilometers of Ukrainian land are potentially contaminated with explosives from the full-scale war, with clearance efforts expected to take over a decade and cost $35 billion, according to the Economy Ministry. The project aims to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian demining, test innovations, and share experiences between Ukrainian and international partners, the Defense Ministry's statement read. "The training ground, which is at the disposal of the Defense Ministry, can become a unique platform for joint research, testing, and training," Olha Drobot, representative of the Secretariat of the National Mine Action Authority, said. The latest technologies and their development can significantly accelerate the process of non-technical surveys of territories, improve the safety of deminers, and reduce risks to the civilian population, Drobot added. During the meeting, the participants also discussed new approaches to analyzing satellite and aerial imagery for mapping mined areas, using neural networks to automatically recognize minefields, and integrating modern artificial intelligence algorithms into safe demining. Ukraine remains the most mined country in the world. Over the past two years, Defense Ministry specialists have cleared 30,000 square kilometers of mines — an area comparable to the size of Belgium or Moldova. Some 399 civilians have been killed, and 915 have been injured by mines since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, according to U.N. monitors. Multiple countries have been assisting Ukraine with demining efforts and providing training and equipment. Read also: Ukraine's army is reforming its structure. Will it help the fight against Russia? We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
