How a Dutch city found an intelligent and cost-effective solution to its road maintenance challenges
The right insights give road owners a level of control and engagement that is truly transformative. Using a simple, affordable GoPro camera, road owners can independently collect critical road data firsthand. This process is used to create an interactive digital twin of the road network, providing a virtual representation that reflects actual conditions on the ground.
| The Challenge
Safe roads contribute to the goals of quality of life and accessibility. However, roads outside built-up areas are often poorly maintained. Budgets are under pressure, and there is a shortage of road inspectors. At the same time, roads in more rural areas are frequently used intensively by residents, recreational users and heavy vehicles such as tractors, agricultural machinery and trucks. In addition, the roads are often narrow, making it difficult for vehicles to pass each other. As a result, these roads are very vulnerable and failures are a regular occurrence. Managing this existing road infrastructure outside of built-up areas is a major challenge.
| Exploring Possibilities
Recognising this challenge, the city of Breda set up a team to research and explore the possibilities of augmenting their process with a digital assistant. To achieve this, the Breda team quickly found INSPECH. The digital inspector can assist the human inspector in detecting road damage and make data-driven assessments based on HD video images. The system contains algorithms that automatically classify road sections according to Rijkswaterstaat or CROW guidelines. As a result, road authorities receive a detailed damage report and can view their inspected area via the INSPECH online portal. Road inspections can be carried out better, faster and safer, at a lower cost of ownership.
| The Dashboard
INSPECH provides a dashboard so that road inspectors are always aware of the current state of the road surface. This provides immediate insight into the area, such as pavement conditions and road damages.
The dashboard automatically displays the type of damage, including severity classes, extent and geographical coordinates of the damage. With this information, the municipality of Breda can take immediate action to repair the damage to the road surface — and strategically manage future maintenance. With INSPECH, Breda can monitor road surface quality.
| The Features
The digital road inspector assists in assessing the road sections according to the guidelines of Rijkswaterstaat (Dutch road regulations). The state of the surface is accessible on a digital map where coloured road sections automatically mark damages. Managers can see exactly which part of the road needs maintenance.
This feature also plots specific damage on the map based on orthographic images so that road inspectors can check specific road sections from their computers — based on current images. The analyses can be automatically linked to international guidelines, such as PCI or the Dutch CROW and DWW regulations. As a result, INSPECHautomatically displays the scores reflecting the official guidelines, allowing for a more proactive maintenance regime. This allows the city of Breda to solve challenges earlier in the road life cycle. Protecting, preserving, and rejuvenating roads in good condition can significantly reduce further damage. Roads can be prepared for major and minor treatments such as surface dressing. The early intervention treatments are not only cost-effective, but they are also significantly contributing to a greener city (i.e. carbon savings).
| The Future
Currently, we are working on the further development of INSPECH. An exciting project is the comparison of inspection results from different periods. Something that fits exceptionally well with a project containing a maintenance component. In addition, it will be possible to monitor the rate of deterioration of the network. This will ensure that proactive measures can be taken in areas that are deteriorating rapidly.
This way, maintenance is not carried out too early and not too late, so maintenance funds can be used optimally.
| Why people love this
- The intelligent inspector can assist the human inspector in detecting road damage and make data-driven assessments based on HD video images.
- Road authorities receive a detailed damage report and can view their inspected area via the INSPECHonline portal.
- The analyses can be automatically linked to international guidelines, such as PCI or the Dutch CROW and DWW regulations.
| What’s in store
- Protecting, preserving, and rejuvenating roads in good condition can significantly reduce further damage.
- Early intervention treatments are not only cost-effective, but they are also significantly contributing to a greener city (i.e. carbon savings).