Digital twin technology set to modernise UK road maintenance | IT PRO
National Highways will create a virtual network to help identify potential problems before they happen
National Highways is set to develop a virtual twin of the UK’s road network that can predict the time and location of potholes and other maintenance issues, as part of a wider plan to digitally transform the way the company handles maintenance.
The digital twin system will see drawings and static models replaced with digital versions that use live data to identify when maintenance is needed.
The project is being developed in collaboration with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the EU MSCA COFUND programme, construction and engineering company Costain, and the University of Cambridge.
National Highways hopes to combine “live” data from “intelligent materials” in the existing road surface to create a virtual road network. The government-owned company said that this will “dramatically reduce” the need for time consuming and costly on-site inspections, prevent unnecessary delays to drivers, and reduce the emissions generated by roadworks.
National Highways is set to develop a virtual twin of the UK’s road network that can predict the time and location of potholes and other maintenance issues, as part of a wider plan to digitally transform the way the company handles maintenance.
The digital twin system will see drawings and static models replaced with digital versions that use live data to identify when maintenance is needed.
The project is being developed in collaboration with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the EU MSCA COFUND programme, construction and engineering company Costain, and the University of Cambridge.
National Highways hopes to combine “live” data from “intelligent materials” in the existing road surface to create a virtual road network. The government-owned company said that this will “dramatically reduce” the need for time consuming and costly on-site inspections, prevent unnecessary delays to drivers, and reduce the emissions generated by roadworks.
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