The Challange

With an extensive network of roads, covering approximately 97,000 km, Norwegian infrastructure has always grappled with unique challenges. Given the country's vast expanse and low population density, Norway has almost 2 km of road per individual, which is notably higher than most countries in the world. Added to this is the severe weather conditions - with some parts of Norway, like Bergen, experiencing precipitation for over 220 days per year and significant temperature changes throughout the year. These climatic swings exert extreme stresses on the road infrastructure. Mesta AS, in charge of maintenance, seeks to bring more precision to its work with traffic signs while Statens Vegvesen (the Norwegian Public Roads Administration) wants to enhance its approach to safe and efficient transportation by monitoring road damage more effectively.

“Norway's vast road network presents complex management challenges. We needed a more detailed approach beyond traditional methods, which led us to Univrses and their 3DAI™ technology.”

- Road Engineer, Statens Vegvesen
‍

Visionary Innovation

Univrses introduced its 3D computer vision technologies, designed to interpret the physical world through data. At the heart of this effort is 3DAI™, an advanced solution that captures 3D data in real-time to provide new dimensions for highway maintenance and safety.
3DAI™ employs state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms that can interpret complex visual information. By collecting and processing this data, it provides an unparalleled understanding of real-world road conditions. It can detect a wide range of features, including specific traffic signs, damage, and even discrepancies in speed regulations as recorded in databases like the NVDB (Nasjonal VegDataBank).
Beyond data collection, 3DAI™ stands out with its dynamic adaptability. It's designed to continuously learn and adapt, ensuring it can detect and visualize road damages and specific traffic signs in various environmental conditions. The insights gained from this technology are detailed and highly accurate, enabling effective decision-making for Mesta and Statens Vegvesen.

The Process

The collaboration between Mesta, Statens Vegvesen, and Univrses focused on addressing Norway's unique infrastructure challenges. The initiative took place in the Bergen region of Norway. It sought to add value to both Mesta AS and Statens Vegvesen and, in the process, demonstrate the capabilities of 3DAI™.

Deployment objectives


The deployment aimed to provide consistent updates on road conditions in Bergen, allowing for timely interventions by road operators. This involved simplifying data collection and asset management procedures to reduce the reliance on manual road inspections, and to streamline operational workflows. Additionally, the approach was designed to promote informed and collaborative decision-making by making data accessible to various departments.

Data Collection and Adaption to Features


3DAI™ was deployed in a number of vehicles, operating on different routes for an extended period, to collect data. During this phase, Univrses’ team not only collected valuable insights on road conditions but also continually adapted 3DAI™ to detect and visualize road damages and specific traffic signs in various environmental conditions.

Deployment objectives


Road inspectors in Bergen utilized infrastructure data provided by 3DAI™ for detailed road assessments. This included monitoring road damages and identifying traffic signs that required maintenance. Access to this data was integrated into their operational procedures, providing them with accurate and timely information for managing tasks and addressing infrastructure issues.

Evaluation


Univrses presented the results based on several KPIs. This included an assessment of feature detection errors, feature position errors, and character recognition errors. A comprehensive report was provided by Univrses, including key metrics, estimated cost and time savings based on the project, and data delivered in a machine-readable format.

The Impact

Univrses' technology offers Mesta detailed visibility of road conditions, enabling more precise and efficient maintenance operations. For Statens Vegvesen, the technology helps detect potential road safety hazards in real-time, significantly enhancing road safety measures and overall transportation efficiency. Drawing on similar deployments, Univrses' solutions have been shown to reduce operation times by more than 50% and cut costs significantly. This pilot study in Bergen suggests that similar benefits could be realized by both Mesta and Statens Vegvesen.

Traffic Sign Management
‍

In the area of traffic sign management, 3DAI™ demonstrated its effectiveness by quickly identifying mismatches between actual traffic signs and the National Road Database (NVDB). This feature enabled Statens Vegvesen to rapidly determine whether the problem was with the physical sign or its record in the database. The system's quick identification of these discrepancies led to immediate updates in the NVDB – a task that could have previously taken months or even years.

This swift response, echoing time savings seen in similar deployments, underscores the potential for enhanced efficiency in Norway's 97,000 km road network. Additionally, the improved data accuracy and real-time updates facilitate more timely and informed decision-making, mirroring the substantial improvements seen in similar scenarios.

Road Damage Management


In road damage management, the deployment of 3DAI™ has shown a significant potential for cost savings and operational efficiencies. Based on insights from similar deployments, where savings of 150 EUR/km/year were observed, the application of 3DAI™ technology across Norway's extensive 97,000 km road network could potentially lead to annual savings of over 10 MEUR in road damage management alone. This projection underscores the technology's capability in not only maintaining road quality but also in offering substantial financial benefits.

Moreover, the labor and resource optimization observed in earlier deployments stands out. In these instances, significant staff resources, previously dedicated to manual road monitoring, were reallocated effectively. For example, in one such deployment, the adoption of 3DAI™ technology led to a 50% reduction in staff time required for road inspections, enabling these personnel to focus on other critical tasks. This indicates a similar opportunity for Mesta and Statens Vegvesen  to enhance their workforce and operational efficiency.

Quantitative Achievements


Over the span of the project, vehicles equipped with the 3DAI™:
Covered 17,459 kilometers of unique roads.

• Detected 5,356 unique traffic signs.
• Identified more than 170 traffic signs (~3.3%) that didn't match the NVDB.
• Identified 88 signs as needing maintenance.
• Detected 579 potholes and 13,979 cracks.
  

“This is about more than enhancing road maintenance; it's about elevating the entire transportation experience. The use of 3DAI™ has refined our approach, making our management processes more proactive and efficient.”

- Road Engineer, Statens Vegvesen
‍

Next Steps

The success of this initial deployment has identified several ways to move forward, including expanding data collection and integrating 3DAI™ data into Mesta and Vegvesen existing systems. Additionally, Univrses engineers are now looking to expand the system's capabilities to include features like monitoring white lines, street lights, and road works based on feedback from this engagement.

Jonathan Selbie, CEO of Univrses, reflects on the partnership and its broader implications:

“Our collaboration with Statens Vegvesen and Mesta is a textbook example of blending technological expertise with practical field knowledge for the benefits of society. This joint efforts have not only contributed to enhanced road maintenance operations, but also sets a benchmark for a new era in infrastructure management, in Norway and beyond.”