05: Where has SuRoMa been?!

Hi Guys,

It’s been a very long time since my last post as I’ve been busy trying to work out the kinks of the project, carrying out surveys and analysis and trying to figure out where next to take my research. I have been involved in several research papers and as a result, my time has been spent at the pc doing analysis and writing papers to disseminate the results. So now I want to give a quick update on the project, my plans, and some activities I have been a part of as part of the SMARTI ETN network!

First up! - After publishing my first paper, ‘Image-based 3D reconstruction using traditional and UAV datasets for analysis of road pavement distress’ (available online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2018.10.010), the next step in the process was trying to establish the accuracy of the methods using mobile devices and then to figure out anomalies within the models that can be used for recognition and analysis.  To this point, I have been able to carry out analysis and surveys using several different mobile devices of different brands including Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Google and Xiaomi and compare these results to models from professional cameras. 

Picture of me during one of the many surveys!

The results show that these devices are capable of accurately reconstructing the pavement distresses and this is the basis of another research paper I am currently writing for The 7th Eurasphalt & Eurobitume Congress which will be held on 12-14 May 2020 in Madrid. I have already submitted an abstract for this conference, based on this work, and it has been accepted so it is very exciting even if it means more work to finish writing the paper for this!

I have also gotten a chance to work with one of the other ESRs on the project - Konstantinos Mantalovas, ESR 10, on a paper looking at the sustainability of altering the pavement maintenance pipeline by considering 3D Image-based modelling techniques for pavement detection. With Konstantinos, we did a case study in Palermo wherein we considered a typical maintenance pipeline and then an optimized one using the 3D techniques as triggers for maintenance. For the Case study, we carried out a Life Cycle Assessment of the two techniques based on the  ISO 14040, 14044 guidelines and utilizing  Gabi ts, by Thinkstep, along with the Gabi Professional database. The results showed that with the use of the proposed low-cost technologies and an optimized maintenance schedule, agencies and road users can receive both environmental and economic benefits providing much-needed savings. The analysis also shows that the critical element in utilizing the optimized strategies is avoiding preplanned extensive rehabilitation and instead relying on keeping the road condition in a good state throughout its service life. 

This joint research paper was accepted for presentation at the International Conference on Smart Cities to be held on July 17 – 19, 2019 in Seoul, Korea and we will be there with the SMARTI ETN team to present our work and spread news of the project.

Another research exercise I have been working one is based on trying to integrate the methods of the 3D Image-based modelling techniques with the units of measurement currently used by Road pavement manuals so as to illustrate exactly how the technique can be used with real-world industry standards and practices. To do this, I have utilized case studies of different measurement types in order to develop a workflow of how the techniques can be utilized for different measurement requirements to help optimize the pavement management system and their connections to available distress identification manuals. I have completed these and managed to submit a paper to the International Congress on Transport Infrastructure and Systems in a Changing World, to be held on 23-24 September 2019 in Rome. I am awaiting results of my submission and hope the paper will be considered for presentation at the event.

These works have all been based on surveys carried out within my first year of the PhD and I am currently working on the recognition of the distresses through imagery. I am developing an Artificial Neural Network to be used for this and I am hoping to have a first model ready before summer and to have that work submitted to a journal as well. It is a very exciting time for the project as this model will be key to developing the strategy for use by road agencies.

Whilst these works have all taken  a lot of the time, the network has also managed to get us involved in training and dissemination activities namely a dissemination activity in Brussels (STA Annual Conference- http://smart-transportation.org/events/2018-sta-annual-conference-innovation-awards-proceedings-2/) and our mid-term review which was carried out in Paris and Nantes where the whole group got together to update the Project Officer about the status of the project and our next steps. It was a great networking opportunity and you can see a shot of me presenting my work and working with the other fellows below!

That’s all for me for now, Will try and keep you more updated as I move towards presenting my work at conferences and spreading the word of SuRoMa!

Talk to you soon!

RR12