AI and Big Data for Assessing Carbon Emission in Tourism Areas: A Pilot Study in Phuket City

Artificial intelligence (AI) and big data technology were applied to assess carbon emissions in a high-tourism area in this study. In the study site, the Thalang Road in Phuket Old Town, Thailand, visitors and vehicles (including cars, motorcycles, trucks, vans, and Tuktuks) were counted using closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and classified via the real-time detection transformer (RT-DETR) algorithm. The data were combined with records of electricity usage. From March to October 2024, 20,000 visitors per month visited the site. Electricity was the main source of carbon emissions, averaging 88 ± 11 tCO2-eq monthly. Transport accounted for 500 ± 14 kg CO2-eq. The average emission per visitor was calculated as 4.2 ± 0.4 kg CO2-eq. The results showed how sustainable tourism policies and urban planning strategies need to be developed in Phuket. Based on the results, indirect emissions from the site need to be estimated.