Those New Devices At Twin Ports Intersections Aren’t Flock Cameras

The Superior Police Department recently shared an informational post from a planning committee about new devices you may be seeing at intersections across the Twin Ports. They want people to know that they are not FLOCK cameras, even though they appear to be.

Instead, these are "WAVIX-AI multimodal radar traffic counters." Like a FLOCK camera, they have a solar panel that powers it, and a device faces traffic. Unlike a FLOCK camera, these don't have an actual camera, and they don't record images.

Ken Hayes

The Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council is behind the installation of these radar traffic counters. They are using them in intersections across the Twin Ports to learn how many people use a road and how they travel. This will help plan future projects and anticipate changes that may happen before and after the Blatnik Bridge Replacement Project.

The radar traffic counter uses smart radar with AI tech. It can classify whether its people, bicycles, or vehicles passing by. They are said to be durable and designed to adapt to any environment. It can also detect the speed and direction of passing objects.

Read More: Locations Of All Flock Cameras In Northern Minnesota

FLOCK cameras have been debated across the country as people worry about their invasion of privacy. In some cases, people have illegally taken down the FLOCK cameras or destroyed them. By sharing this information, hopefully these WAVIX traffic counters won't be mistaken for a FLOCK camera, because we're going to need all the help we can get to figure out traffic once the Blatnik Bridge closes.