Please can you release any privacy assessments relating to the use of Vivacity Labs sensors, as referenced in this tweet: https://twitter.com/TfL/status/1217799570996047874 Please could you also release any documents outlining how the sensors will function or the analytics that they will collect, and a list of locations where they will be deployed?

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TfL Ref: FOI-3127-1920

Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 16 January 2020.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked:

Please can you release any privacy assessments relating to the use of Vivacity Labs sensors, as referenced in this tweet:

https://twitter.com/TfL/status/1217799570996047874

Please could you also release any documents outlining how the sensors will function or the analytics that they will collect, and a list of locations where they will be deployed?

The technology deployed has been assessed by a number of Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) from the supplier Vivacity. These demonstrate that privacy is protected when the sensors are deployed in London for the purposes of gathering road usage demand data, including fully classified traffic counts. All video captured by the sensors is processed and discarded within seconds, meaning that no personal data is ever stored. When deployed on the road network, data is processed within the sensor and the output data of counts of pedestrians, cyclists and traffic by type is sent to TfL, without any images or private information attached.

The PIAs are not held by TfL but Vivacity. Vivacity are not subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and therefore are not obliged to provide the PIAs you require. However, attached is Vivacity’s document on data protection that they are happy to disclose that you may find useful.

Please also see the attached Sensor Platform Brochure which explains how the sensors work.

The team are currently preparing an extended trial which will deploy 43 units across 20 locations for two years. The trial sites are located on key central corridors and Thames bridges which maximise the number of monitoring opportunities.  See the map below which indicates the locations:

During this trial we are challenging the capabilities of the technology by introducing new transport modes and improving the detection rate. Our requirements for this data include cycle and pedestrian counts, full traffic classified counts (13 types of traffic), turning movement counts, link delays, queue length monitoring and pedestrian crowding.

These new sensors have a number of benefits over existing technologies such as less street clutter, lower installation and maintenance costs and higher detection rates. An artificial intelligence layer is applied to the sensor, which has the ability to be trained to count bespoke vehicle types such as cargo bikes and London buses. This could improve reliance and reduce the requirement for manual counts or less reliable legacy technology while reducing costs over the long term.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Eva Hextall

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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