The RONDA project aims to develop a data-driven framework, pattern recognition techniques and low-cost sensor technologies for the detection, classification and georeferencing of roadway pavement surface anomalies, as well as to develop technologies for adaptive-location traffic monitoring by use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).
Within this context, the project will utilize a real-life transport network (in the area of Lakatamia Municipality) to study roadway infrastructure and several vulnerability aspects with respect to key quantitative and qualitative attributes of traffic and roadway pavement conditions, and to offer a low-cost, participatory-sensing integrated hardware/software platform for the sustainable management of this network.
The proposed platform will enable transport network managers/operators to (i) intelligently and cost efficiently assess the condition of the roadways and the extent of damage due to unforeseen events (such as pavement deterioration, traffic accidents, etc.), (ii) devise mitigation strategies, (iii) reduce vulnerability levels (e.g. through proactive maintenance, or traffic management strategies), and (iv) deduce knowledge on the efficient operations of transport networks (e.g. through GIS-based condition and traffic maps).
Within the project, KIOS CoE will undertake the task of delivering drone and vision-based traffic assessment tools, for measuring key traffic indices (traffic count, flow and headway, vehicle classification and counts) at selected network junctions.
The vision of the proposed project is to gradually evolve into a national platform and Decision Support System for the holistic vulnerability assessment of transport networks, tightly integrating with the Ministry of Transport’s traffic modeling platform and the Ministry’s open-data initiative.
The project’s partnership consists of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence at the University of Cyprus, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works – Public Works Department, Lakatamia Municipality, as well as the SMEs SignalGeneriX Ltd and Geolmaging Ltd.
Project’s description: http://www.eng.ucy.ac.cy/ctim/ronda/
The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation (‘RESTART 2016-2020’ Program), (Grant No. INTEGRATED/0918/0056).
