Taipei: Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced Monday that the city is collaborating with Nvidia Corp. on several projects to transform Taipei into a smart city, with a focus on upgrading the Taipei Metro's Wenhu Line (Brown Line). Entering commercial service in 1996, this line will undergo modernization through AI-powered simulation and analysis across all 24 stations between the Wenshan and Neihu districts beginning next year.
According to Focus Taiwan, Mayor Chiang detailed the collaboration with Nvidia before a keynote speech by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the Taipei Music Center. Several major transfer stations, including Daan, Zhongxiao Fuxing, Nanjing Fuxing, and Zhongshan Junior High School stations, will employ Nvidia Omniverse technology to develop advanced 3D digital models for crowd-flow simulation and operational planning.
The modernization project aims for completion by 2036 and includes enhancements to rolling stock and signaling systems. Additionally, Nvidia's technologies will be utilized to conduct passenger-flow simulations, focusing on areas such as platform evacuation during peak hours, the impact of service disruptions, and ridership-capacity management.
Mayor Chiang emphasized the city's commitment to leveraging AI to build Taipei into an AI-driven smart city. He mentioned the establishment of AI operational guidelines and the introduction of competitive budgeting programs to encourage AI adoption in municipal governance, aiming to enhance public services and administrative efficiency.
While the initial focus of the partnership with Nvidia will be on the Taipei Metro, Mayor Chiang indicated plans to expand AI applications into other areas of city governance. Discussions with Nvidia's technical team are scheduled later this week to explore future collaborations.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, in Taipei for the launch of Nvidia's Taiwan headquarters, shared that the construction of the facility at the Beitou Shilin Technology Park is scheduled to commence at the end of 2026, with expected completion in 2030.