Pavement distress detection
An advanced automatic video analysis system for real-time monitoring of road pavement anomalies.
Constant monitoring of the state of the pavement is of paramount importance to ensure vehicle safety and prevent emergency situations. Maintenance activities fall into two main categories: preventive maintenance, which aims to reduce the risk of future criticality, and reactive maintenance, which is necessary to address damage already present on the roadway. Although it is not possible to eliminate reactive maintenance altogether, a proper balance between the two approaches makes it possible to optimise costs, extend the service life of infrastructure and improve the overall quality of the road network.
Traditional visual inspections play a key role in detecting pavement anomalies. However, this method has some criticalities: it requires dedicated staff, therefore it is prone to human error and is time-consuming, especially for manual data collection and processing.
The Pavement Distress Detection project introduces an innovative solution based on an automated video analysis system that detects road anomalies in real time, eliminating most of the inefficiencies of traditional inspections. Cameras and sensors installed on corporate vehicles continuously capture images of the pavement during normal movements along the road network. These images are analysed in-vehicle using advanced Machine Learning algorithms, which can identify and classify deformations, cracks and other defects in the superstructure. In addition to improving the efficiency of maintenance operations, the system enables continuous monitoring of the state of the pavement, allowing proactive action to be taken on risky sections.
Research & Development
We collaborate with startups, research centers and universities, in Italy and abroad, to develop solutions that improve operational processes and introduce new features, making mobility more efficient, safe and sustainable. As the technology hub of the Autostrade per l’Italia Group, we are committed to developing advanced solutions for improving mobility, with applications ranging from motorways to urban infrastructure.