Improved safety, efficiency and cost reduction are among the benefits of OMICRON project technologies that were presented to road managers, maintenance and construction specialists among other relevant stakeholders on 19 November 2024. Around 70 representatives of 40 organisations worldwide joined the 6th and final OMICRON External Advisory Board (EAB) meeting online. Chaired by Jesús Rodríguez, they heard progress and provided feedback on vehicle-mounted and drone-based digital inspection technologies, the OMICRON Digital Twin and Decision Support Tool, and a virtual reality (VR)-controlled robotic platform for the placement, removal and cleaning of cones, barriers and signage.
The EAB event began with a recap of the project by OMICRON coordinator José Solís Hernández of CEMOSA. Focusing on the final demonstration of technologies on Italy’s A1 motorway, hosted by Autostrade per l’Italia in September 2024, he highlighted the transition from laboratory testing to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 and real-world operational success. Outcomes demonstrated the effectiveness of OMICRON’s digital and robotic tools for road and asset inspection, management and maintenance as part of its intelligent road asset management platform. Collectively, these innovative technologies have been shown to target reduced accidents, traffic disruptions and maintenance costs and to increase safety and road network efficiency.
Advances in digital inspection technologies
The first session of the EAB meeting covered several technologies to improve the accuracy and frequency of road infrastructure inspections. José Luis Andrade of the University of Seville showed how a fleet of autonomous drones carried out synchronised bridge inspections. This multi-UAV approach enables more frequent, precise inspections while minimising the need for workers to enter hazardous areas. The drones also allow for detailed damage assessments and structural evaluations, improving overall monitoring and reducing service disruptions.
Francisco Javier Perez from CATEC presented a long-range drone inspection system. Equipped with high-resolution cameras, the umanned aerial vehicle (UAV) facilitates 3D reconstructions and operates beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of the operator, ensuring more accurate and efficient inspections and further enhancing safety.
In addition to drones, Alwyn Mathew from the University of Cambridge gave an update on the ‘PointPix’ terrestrial road scanner developed in OMICRON. This vehicle-based technology aims to reduce inspection costs by 50% and speed up road condition monitoring by 30%. The scanner provides an efficient, cost-effective solution for monitoring road conditions, particularly for smaller and slower secondary roads that often lack regular inspection coverage.
Robotic platform for safer roadside maintenance
The OMICRON project is also advancing roadside maintenance through the development of a modular robotic platform, which can be controlled from a safe distance using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) interfaces. Presented by Ander Ansuategi of Tekniker and Themis Anastasiou of the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation (LMS, University of Patras), the focus in this EAB meeting* was on how the platform automates tasks such as installation of cones, barriers and signals and the cleaning of road assets.
The test results showed a 100% reduction in worker exposure to hazardous zones for certain tasks, and a 10-20% reduction in maintenance time. The robotic platform is particularly valuable for smaller maintenance organisations with limited resources. Future developments will focus on obtaining certification for the system and expanding its capabilities, potentially handling more complex tasks such as installing traffic guide beacons.
*See news from the 5th EAB meeting for details about the robotic platform’s performance with laser removal of paint markings and automated crack sealing.
Digital Twin and Decision Support for predictive maintenance
In session two, OMICRON partners introduced the next-generation digital tools designed to optimise infrastructure management, decision making and road maintenance. Nuria García De Villa of Prointec/Indra and Balázs Némedi of Régens presented the OMICRON intelligent platform, consisting of a powerful Digital Twin and Decision Support System (DSS) that integrates real-time and historical data. They showcased the platform’s interactive 2D and 3D visualisations and explained how the system reduces data retrieval times by over 50%, making for more efficient road operations. Furthermore, they showed the potential for expansion to other infrastructure types, such as railways.
Paula López of CEMOSA guided the EAB meeting participants through two predictive maintenance tools, which use machine learning and sensor data to predict road and bridge conditions, allowing for better predictive maintenance strategies. Integration with the Digital Twin in the OMICRON digital platform offers actionable insights that help improve the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of maintenance planning. Alice Consilvio from the University of Genova presented the Decision Support System, which uses traffic simulations and multi-criteria optimisation to minimise disruptions and enhance safety by scheduling maintenance work during off-peak times. Collectively, these tools aim to reduce maintenance costs, improve operational efficiency and ensure better management of infrastructure assets.
Feedback: real-world impact and future directions
During the EAB meeting, several external stakeholders shared their feedback on OMICRON’s technologies and their real-world benefits. Interventions from seven road operators highlighted expected improvements in road asset monitoring, network capacity, and decision making about priorities and resource allocation.
There was lively discussion around audience questions. The integration of UAV inspection data with digital platforms like digital twins was one topic discussed, highlighting the frequent, precise inspection data that complements traditional methods, helping to digitise legacy data and improve asset management. The OMICRON digital twin and DSS were praised for their adaptability and ability to integrate with external tools such as Autodesk for BIM and S3 for mapping. However, it was noted that improvements are needed in data input granularity and AI-driven predictive maintenance capabilities. The flexibility of the robotic modular platform was also praised—particularly its ability to enhance operational safety by automating tasks such as traffic cone placement. Although its commercialisation potential is clear, further cost-benefit analysis is needed before its deployment could be widesprea, the group concluded.
Next steps and conclusions
José Solís Hernández thanked EAB Chair Jesús Rodríguez for organising and chairing this and the five previous OMICRON External Advisory Board meetings, which have provided invaluable feedback to the project team.
Looking ahead, OMICRON will continue evaluating the results of the technical demonstrations. The project is also addressing standardisation, regulatory and certification challenges, particularly for the robotic platform, to ensure it can be widely adopted. In conclusion, the OMICRON project will help transform infrastructure inspection and maintenance through its innovative technologies, offering numerous benefits in terms of safety, efficiency, and cost reduction.
Last chance to join us! January 16th conference, Madrid
OMICRON’s final results will be showcased in a one-day, free-of-charge conference ‘Old Roads, New Technologies: safe and intelligent road asset management’ in Madrid on 16 January 2025.
The event is co-organised with fellow EU-funded project InfraROB and in collaboration with the HERON project and will feature developments from both those projects too. Together we will highlight benefits, mutual areas of focus, and extend discussions to include relevant wider issues and guest speakers, with our eyes fixed on the potential next steps for Europe’s roads.
Join us in Madrid
from 09:00-18:00 CET
on 16 January 2025!
Register and see all the most up-to-date event details.
