Engineering Research Scientist Read Hayes runs the UF SaferPlaces Lab, which serves Florida communities by combining psychology and technology to implement ways that AI can protect them from theft, fraud, and violence. Through living lab research his team combines cutting-edge AI, IoT, VR, and a deeper understanding of human pathology and psychology to develop surveillance, tracking, and communication systems to protect vulnerable people. Drone footage, body cameras, surveillance videos, and AI software that can track and alert people in real time about individual erratic behavior can be combined in an effort to respond to, or even stop theft and violence before they happen.
Hayes recently traveled to Tallahassee to represent UF on Gator Day to showcase how his SaferPlaces Lab works to keep retail communities safe from shoplifters. Check out the many ways they are doing just that!