Creation of a ‘virtual twin’ of the strategic road network capable of predicting when maintenance is required will be taken forward by National Highways.
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The operator – formerly known as Highways England – also plans to roll out self repairing materials and provide support for autonomous vehicles under its ‘Digital Roads 2025’ vision.
A new webpage and ‘virtual learning environment’ allows users to navigate around a simulated exhibition space to learn more about its plans for delivering digital roads.
“We are at the beginning of a digital revolution on our roads network which will fundamentally change how our roads are designed, built, operated and used,” said National Highways executive director of strategy and planning Elliot Shaw.
Digital transformation promises to “make our roads safer and greener”, he added, and said: “Improvements and maintenance will be delivered more quickly with less disruption and road users will have a far better end to end journey experience, with savings on time and the cost of travel.”
Creating a virtual twin of the strategic network will see drawings and static models of roads replaced with digital versions. Combining ‘live’ data from sensors and intelligent materials in the road surface with this virtual twinning system promises, it is said, easier identification of maintenance requirements.
Dr Ioannis Brilakis of the University of Cambridge – which is also working on the initiative – said: “It is high time the transportation infrastructure sector embraces digital transformation.
“We should strive to replace drawings and static 3D models with dynamic and data rich digital twins,” he urged, as well as replacing “passive materials with smart materials able to sense and heal themselves and automate all manual routine maintenance”.
Connected and autonomous plant, off site fabrication and modular construction methods are among digitally enabled innovations either in use or planned to improve road construction processes, the Digital Roads 2025 vision states.
Operational improvements to the network are promised through, for example, the use of sensor technology to forecast traffic levels, weather and environmental conditions, allowing National Highways to better prepare and respond to situations. Digital technology is also set to improve the provision of information to drivers to support journey planning.
Over the longer term, the deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles is expected to drastically improve traffic flow and reduce incidents by up to 90%, the Digital Roads vision says.
To view the new webpage and virtual learning environment, click here.
(Photograph: Blue Planet Studio - Shutterstock)
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