Leading with AI: Madison Technologies Takes Top Honours in Cisco Global Partner Innovation Challenge

Madison Technologies has once again proven its commitment to advancing technology-driven safety solutions by winning the Artificial Intelligence Award in Cisco’s 7th Annual Global Partner Innovation Challenge. By harnessing Cisco IoT technologies, Madison Technologies’ Camera-as-a-Sensor solution stood out among global competitors, demonstrating how AI can enhance safety, improve efficiency, and provide actionable insights in critical OT environments.

Introduced for the first time this year, the Artificial Intelligence Award showcases the transformative potential of AI across industries. All awards were announced this week at the Cisco Partner Summit 2024 in Los Angeles, where the new AI category garnered unprecedented interest, with 73 percent of submissions featuring AI-powered solutions aimed at solving real-world challenges.

This achievement marks Madison Technologies’ second award at the Global Partner Innovation Challenge, following its first-place win in the inaugural Global Digital Sustainability Challenge category in 2022.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognised by Cisco for our commitment to innovation in safety technology,” said Paul Calabro, CEO of Madison Technologies. “We believe in developing solutions that not only safeguard operational environments but also provide our customers with the intelligence needed for informed, proactive decision-making. This award emphasises our dedication to collaborating with industry leaders like Cisco to advance technology that makes a meaningful difference.”

The AI Award reinforces Cisco’s commitment to fostering groundbreaking AI solutions and highlights Madison Technologies’ leadership in applying AI to drive operational value in essential infrastructure. By setting a new standard in level crossing safety, Madison Technologies shows the potential of AI to solve complex safety challenges and enable proactive decision-making for railway operators.

The Camera-as-a-Sensor solution for rail level crossings combines advanced AI and edge computing, powered by Cisco’s Meraki MV52 cameras, Cisco IR1101 Industrial IoT routers, and NVIDIA Jetson industrial PCs. This solution proactively monitors and analyses pedestrian and vehicle behaviour at railway intersections, detecting and alerting operators to unsafe conditions in real time. This ensures prompt responses to operational failures, such as malfunctioning lights and boom gates, creating a safer environment for all.

“At Madison Technologies, our mission starts by understanding each customer’s unique challenges,” said Ash Khan, National Manager – Technology Solutions & Innovation at Madison Technologies. “Our solutions team is dedicated to identifying and addressing these pain points, allowing us to craft tailored solutions that precisely meet their needs. With this award-winning Camera-as-a-Sensor solution, we’ve combined Cisco’s IoT technology, NVIDIA edge analytics, and our own expertise to deliver a scalable, AI-driven platform for real-time analysis, proactive insights, and alerts.”

“This award is a testament to Madison Technologies’ strength in providing impactful, fully supported solutions that drive safety and efficiency improvements in critical industries.”

Traditional rail safety solutions have long been limited by reactive capabilities, relying on outdated automation systems that activate lights and gates without detecting individual risks. Madison Technologies’ Camera-as-a-Sensor solution addresses these limitations head-on, providing an intelligent, scalable system capable of capturing valuable data on vehicle and pedestrian activity at level crossings. This data, enriched by AI insights, offers railway operators actionable intelligence on traffic flow, peak usage periods, and near-miss incidents, allowing for data-informed decisions around maintenance, safety upgrades, and resource planning.

“Our partnership with Cisco uniquely positions us at the forefront of integrating IoT into OT environments, where safety and operational reliability are paramount”, said Daniel Stuckey, Cisco Program Lead at Madison Technologies. “We have the industry insight and technical depth to transform Cisco’s IoT capabilities into tailored solutions that directly address the challenges faced by rail operators. We’re proud to leverage this strength to support safety standards across critical infrastructure, making a real impact in the field.”

According to the TrackSAFE Foundation, Australia has seen 1,426 fatalities across its heavy rail network between 2016 and 2023, including 165 vehicle collisions and 30 pedestrian accidents at level crossings. With Madison Technologies’ solution, real-time detection and alerts are poised to help reduce such tragedies, offering a vital upgrade in public safety.

Proposed with scalability in mind, Madison Technologies’ solution leverages Cisco’s flexible open platform, making it easy to deploy across diverse and critical OT environments. The system would integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, allowing railway operators to meet stringent Australian safety regulations without requiring a full overhaul of current operations.

For further information about Madison Technologies’ award-winning Camera-as-a-Sensor solution and other innovations, please visit https://madison.tech/solutions/camera-as-a-sensor/