Smart Infrastructure (AI on the Streets) uses digital technologies to improve the efficiency, sustainability and resilience
By: Heather Thomas, UCBJ Associate Publisher
The Upper Cumberland is best known for its natural beauty, tight-knit communities and rolling hills, but an artificial intelligence (AI) revolution has begun, and the small towns of the Upper Cumberland are not an exception; many are leading the way, and the area is gaining recognition for the integration of robotics and AI.
It isn’t surprising that manufacturers in the Upper Cumberland have deployed AI. However, the extent of innovative technologies used in our traffic systems and health care facilities may surprise some.
Smart Infrastructure (AI on the Streets) uses digital technologies to improve the efficiency, sustainability and resilience of physical infrastructure, and the city of Cookeville recently began implementing such AI-powered traffic cameras at key intersections. These smart systems, first installed at South Willow Avenue and Interstate Drive, are designed to optimize signal timings and improve safety.
By analyzing real-time traffic patterns, AI helps reduce congestion and the risk of accidents.
“Local infrastructure improvements, AI innovation into traffic mitigation and city camera systems, along with broadband availability, is part of broader efforts of Cookeville becoming a smart city that uses technology to improve the quality of life and operational efficiency,” said City of Cookeville councilman Ali Bagci.
The innovation is part of a broader trend toward smart cities that use technology to enhance public services and mobility to help improve the quality of life by reducing traffic congestion. AI has also improved robotic precision in rural hospitals in the Upper Cumberland. Health care providers in the region are harnessing robotic technology to improve robotic precision that looks to significantly benefit the health and well-being of everyone in the Upper Cumberland.
“The benefit of the technology is that patients suffer from less pain with the operation. Compared to traditional techniques, they have a faster recovery with fewer side effects such as burning after the procedure,” said William Young, MD. urologist with the Cumberland Specialty Group. “Hospital stays are typically shorter, just one night, and you can resume normal activity within two weeks.”
Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC) and Cumberland Medical Center (CMC) have both introduced robotic-assisted surgical systems, enabling minimally invasive procedures with greater accuracy and faster recovery times.
“Technology in health care is constantly evolving, and Cookeville Regional is embracing that evolution, particularly through the integration of AI-assistance and advanced technologies. We are already seeing the benefits across multiple areas. Our lab and pharmacy systems are automated, our pathology group is using AI-assisted tools to read prostate and breast biopsies, and our surgical teams are utilizing three da Vinci robots, our newest equipped with AI capabilities. Urologists are offering Aquablation therapy for prostate treatment, and our orthopedic specialists are applying innovative technologies every day. The common thread in all of these advances is a lower error rate, which is incredibly important for our patients and our community. They deserve access to some of the best technologies and care available right here at home,” said Buffy Key, CEO of CRMC.
Led by Dr. Jason Easterday, Dr. Hunter Lambert, and Dr. Rick Smith of Upper Cumberland Urology, CRMC recently introduced Aquablation therapy using the HYDROS Robotic System, a minimally invasive, cutting-edge treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate.
“It’s a meaningful advancement in how we care for men in our community,” said Dr. Easterday.
The Upper Cumberland has shown economic growth for decades by leveraging innovation and technology. From city streets to surgical suites, the Upper Cumberland region proves innovation is not confined to major metropolitan areas. With a blend of forward-thinking infrastructure and advanced health care technology, the region is creating a model for how rural America can thrive in the age of AI and robotics.
As the Upper Cumberland and its health care leaders continue to innovate, one thing is clear: the future is being built here, with vision, precision and compassion.
Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik.
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