Vancouver International Airport deploys AI-Powered Sensors on Sea Island through B.C.’s Integrated Marketplace

VANCOUVER, B.C., April 30, 2025 - Through the Province’s Integrated Marketplace (IM) program, delivered by Innovate BC, Vancouver-based MistyWest is deploying first-of-its-kind AI-powered sensor technology at a key access point to Sea Island to inform infrastructure enhancements that will improve traffic flow and safety on roadways to Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

The project, which received $100,000 in funding through the IM program along with additional funding support from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT), introduced MistyWest’s AI-powered vision system, MistyVision, on the Moray Bridge, a swing-arm bridge that serves as a critical yet operationally complex route to Sea Island. With further support from Simon Fraser University (SFU)’s Big Data team, MistyVision sensors will be used to analyze traffic patterns and enable the classification of 13 distinct vehicle types prioritized by MOTT. The resulting insights and information will help inform the future design of a Moray Bridge replacement and other roadway infrastructure projects.

“Through the Integrated Marketplace, companies like MistyWest are able to demonstrate results that will help drive B.C. tech development forward, and help British Columbians get a more efficient, safe and resilient transportation system,” said Diana Gibson, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “This partnership with YVR is about leveraging made-in-B.C. technology to help businesses grow, create jobs, and tackle significant challenges.”

YVR welcomed 26.2 million travellers and handled more than 339,000 tonnes of cargo in 2024, making roadways around the airport some of the busiest and critically important in the region. With the advancement of MistyVision technology, MOTT and YVR have a powerful tool for monitoring traffic and road conditions.

“At YVR, we’re proud to be the first testbed in the Integrated Marketplace, demonstrating how collaboration with B.C.’s leading innovators—like MistyWest—can deliver real impact. By adopting MistyVision sensors, we’re leveraging advanced, data-driven technology to enhance our roadway efficiency and cargo operations, benefiting both our community and our business partners. This investment reflects YVR’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and our role as a globally competitive gateway—and as a place where great companies want to work and grow,” said Tamara Vrooman, President & CEO at YVR. 

MistyWest team and families

While traditional camera systems rely on grid energy and video streams, this technology uses solar power and edge AI to monitor, process and compile traffic data directly on the sensor itself without the need to store footage locally. This approach minimizes infrastructure requirements, significantly reducing both deployment and data transmission costs, while providing accurate, real-time information on traffic patterns and flow.

"The Integrated Marketplace has been instrumental in the creation of MistyVision, an industry-first solution that reduces cost for clients by processing and analyzing data directly within the device itself - removing the need to store video footage, and the infrastructure it takes to do that,” said Leigh Christie, Co-Founder, MistyWest, “Our solar powered smart sensors are now best-in-class globally and we have Innovate BC to thank for helping us to land our first customer: YVR/MOTT."

As the first-use case of MistyVision, this project will serve as a proving ground for the technology's capabilities, with insights gained informing a range of possible high-impact future applications, such as border security, incident detection, environmental monitoring, and more.

Created to help drive innovation in the province, the Integrated Marketplace program supports projects that connect strategic partners, like YVR, to B.C.-based solution providers to implement, scale, and export B.C. technology solutions. The Integrated Marketplace’s unique framework allows B.C. industries to receive assistance and reduce the risks in adopting innovation and new technologies, boosting their productivity and competitiveness, while connecting these solution providers with valuable Canadian reference customers that support their growth. 

“Fostering innovation is integral to a resilient and prosperous future for B.C. – creating jobs, driving sustainable growth for key sectors, and delivering solutions to both local and global challenges,” said Peter Cowan, President + CEO of Innovate BC. “By connecting B.C. innovators like MistyWest with key customers and opportunities through the Integrated Marketplace, we’re not just helping companies scale – we’re strengthening a critical pillar of our province’s economy. This approach helps reinforce our industries and secures long-term prosperity for British Columbians amid shifting economic conditions and their impact on our region.”

This announcement is part of the Government of B.C.’s investment in the Integrated Marketplace, which includes an initial commitment of $11.5 million and a recently announced additional $30 million over the next three years, and the Government of Canada’s investment, through PacifiCan, of $9.9 million.

Additional Quotes

Steven Bergner, University Research Associate, Simon Fraser University, School of Computing Science

“Collaborating with MistyWest and YVR has allowed us to apply advanced data analytics to a truly real-world infrastructure challenge. At SFU’s Big Data Hub, we contributed AI expertise to develop a custom traffic classification and tracking system—drawing from a vast ecosystem of open-source models and tools. By transforming raw camera data into actionable insights, we’re supporting smarter, more responsive operations planning at the airport. This project is a powerful example of how innovation, data, and cross-sector collaboration can come together to create real impact.”

About Innovate BC

A Crown Agency of British Columbia, Innovate BC works to foster innovation across the province and bolster the growth of the local economy through delivering a wide range of programs that help companies start and scale, access talent and encourage technology development, commercialization, and adoption. Innovate BC also harnesses crucial data collection and research, and works to forge strategic industry and community partnerships that create more opportunities for B.C. innovators.

Media Contact

Michael Gleboff
Communications + Community Manager
mgleboff@innovatebc.ca
604-602-5210