«We are continuing to develop a project that will assist in water safety operations. The system will be able to track swimmers who go beyond the buoys, those who dive underwater and do not resurface within a certain time, as well as those who signal for help,» Dmitry Matyushko said.
The specialists reviewed the current version of the software and identified areas requiring further refinement. Another meeting is planned for the first ten days of September, when the developers will present an updated version of the system.
The technology is expected to be further developed for year-round use. In addition to monitoring beaches in the summer, it is planned to be used to ensure the safety of ice fishermen in winter, as well as for boaters in spring and autumn.
Minsk Vice Mayor Oleg Korzun noted that several approaches aimed at reducing water-related fatalities are being explored. One of them was proposed by a resident of the Hi-Tech Park and involves the use of AI. «What we have seen today is mostly preventive measures aimed at preventing violations. But what interests us most is preventing the loss of life on the water,» Oleg Korzun said.
He stressed that saving lives remains the top priority. The development will be refined in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, the Emergencies Ministry, and OSVOD.
Oleg Korzun also highlighted the causes of water-related deaths this year. Some tragedies occurred in shallow water — from 1 to 1.7 meters — and in approximately 60% (perhaps slightly more) of cases, the victims were under the influence of alcohol.
The project is currently planned to be tested at the Tsnyanskoye Reservoir beach, which attracts large numbers of visitors during the swimming season. If the system proves successful, the experience will be extended to other sites, and eventually across the country.
According to Dmitry Sugako, a representative of the developer company and resident of the Hi-Tech Park, the project is based on computer vision technology. It was initially tested in swimming pools. The system simultaneously tracks people in the water and can alert a lifeguard if a person dives and fails to surface within a set period.
The system has shown high results in pools. However, using the technology in open water is significantly more challenging due to weather and natural factors — rain, snow, fog, sun glare, dawn, and darkness. To operate in such conditions, additional technologies are planned, including thermal imaging and infrared vision. The developer noted that existing technological capabilities are sufficient to address these challenges.
The working meeting was held at the Tsnyanskaya rescue station and was attended by representatives of the Emergencies Ministry, the Main Police Department, the Minsk City Hall, OSVOD, and the software developers.
