This spotlight series is dedicated to showcasing the best practices shared by ERSC members. Each month, we highlight a different member’s innovative road safety initiative. By highlighting these success stories, we aim to create a collaborative environment where others recognise, celebrate, and adopt lessons learned and best practices.
Our January spotlight features ASIMOB (Advanced Services in MOBility SL) from Spain for their impactful initiative, "Work Zone Signage Control through Computer Vision to Improve Road Safety." This innovative service leverages advanced technology to improve the monitoring and maintenance of work zone signage, ensuring safer conditions for road users.
Why the Work Zone Signage Control initiative has been recognised as Good Practice of the Month
This initiative has been selected as this month’s Good Practice because of its effective use of Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision to improve safety in work zones. These areas are particularly dangerous for construction workers, drivers, and motorcyclists, and they often pose challenges for driver assistance systems. By automating the monitoring of signage and road markings, the initiative enhances safety for workers and road users by providing real-time assessments and offering immediate corrective actions.
Key inspiration behind the ASIMOB initiative
The initiative was developed in response to the lack of systematic monitoring of work zone signage, often performed manually or irregularly. Improper signage in work zones contributes to road accidents worldwide, for example, in Spain, 158 traffic accidents in 2021 were linked to maintenance and conservation works on the roads. ASIMOB sought to address this challenge by automating the process using Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision.
Project activities
Since its launch, the Autonomous Road Inspector has been applied in multiple work zones in Spain and Canada, with several key activities:
- Frequent monitoring: The system uses vehicles working in the area to continuously monitor traffic signs and road markings during the entire duration of the road work.
- Notifications: Every day, notifications are received regarding any changes or discrepancies in signage, enabling immediate corrective actions. Additionally, evidence of signage status is saved for further analysis and compliance.
- Cloud-based analysis: The data is processed on cloud servers provided by Google, Microsoft, or AWS, ensuring efficient and reliable analysis.
Outcomes of the initiative
The initiative has already demonstrated significant results:
- In just 5km of monitored work zone in Spain, over nine months, more than 280 instances of improper signage were detected and addressed.
- The system has successfully stored evidence of the real infrastructure status, enabling better analysis of accident causes and improving future procedures.
- The initiative has made the monitored work zones safer for workers and road users.
For more information
Read more about the ASIMOB initiative here - explore the project's activities and outcomes in further detail.
If you want to develop a similar strategy in your local authority or Member State, contact the project lead, Ibon Arechalde at ibon.arechalde@asimob.es. Ibon can provide further information or advice on the project, as necessary.
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