LCRIG content director Alec Peachey carries out regular interviews with sector representatives to highlight the work they’re doing and the types of technologies that are driving innovation forward. This week, Ben Brown, Business Development Manager – Computer Vision at Vaisala, discusses the importance of using technology to carry out network deterioration modelling and drive early intervention asset management.
Q. What is the best way to try innovations on a huge customer base?
A. “People like to get their hands on new systems and technology, get a feel for the user interface and what kind of data it can produce, so with RoadAI we built a tool that is easy for engineers to access and use, it can be downloaded from an online App store, and account set up remotely, so we have been able to get customers up and running, collecting data on their network with their own teams, within a week of initial contact. Because the data is processed automatically using AI enabled computer vision, the results are available to see on the map based UI within a few hours.”
Q. As an SME, what are some of the main challenges you face when it comes to engaging with the wider sector?
A. “Vaisala have been delivering services to the UK highway sector for >40 years, so we are fortunate that we have been able to meet with and demonstrate RoadAI to many highways engineers who we already know, but this takes lots of resource, and there are only so many hours in a day. Industry bodies and representative groups like LCRIG, ADEPT, CIHT, IHE and the UKRLG are key to broadening that reach, and we have engaged with all of these groups, along with the providers of more established technologies.”
Q. What cutting edge technologies are you most excited about?
A. “There are some nice innovations coming from other companies using computer vision to do traffic analysis, including cyclists and pedestrian movements, drones to collect construction site progress data, and lots of innovations coming from asset management companies who are using the more frequent, more detailed data that RoadAI can produce, to do network deterioration modelling and drive early intervention asset management.”
Q. In what ways does the sector need to evolve?
A. “One of the biggest impacts on the successful adoption of new technology is organisational culture; the highways sector is already pretty agile and technologically literate, but there is always room for improvement. The industry needs to find ways to share best practice from organisations who foster a culture that embraces change and are ready to make the process improvements required to maximise the benefits of technology.”
Q. Can regulation be a barrier to innovation?
A. “Regulation can be a barrier to change, but it can also help industry adopt new technologies. Excessively proscriptive standards that focus on how technology works rather than the data it produces, is an example of the former, but when standards focus on measuring outcomes, and ensuring data is produced in a recognisable and consistent format, this enables integration of technology with other systems, promotes competition and provides the ability to benchmark performance.”
Q. In what ways can the industry work better with local authorities and should there be a greater sharing of knowledge?
A. “As a technology provider we have a role in explaining what the technology can do, and how it can address the challenges they are facing, but local authority engineers are often equally interested to hear how their peers have adopted and integrated the technology, what process changes were needed and how they managed and implemented that process. The formation of open communities where industry experts can share experiences about the adoption of new technologies is a really effective way for industry to engage with, share and learn from each other, and for local authorities to ensure they don’t repeat others mistakes, and help realise the safety, commercial and environmental benefits that technology can deliver.”
Q. Should more designated funding be allocated for local roads and what role can innovation play in ensuring money is spent effectively?
A. “Funding for local authorities is going to be under more pressure now than it has been even in the past decade of austerity, and we need to ensure that money allocated to roads is spent where it is needed most. Take for example the >40 highways authorities using RoadAI, these councils are now able to collect network wide condition data, multiple times a year, for less than it would cost using traditional methods, across only half of their network once a year. This more frequent availability of consistent data is enabling engineers to implement evidence driven early intervention programmes, and produce better, more effective maintenance plans, improving network conditions while lowering costs.”