Smart Road and Intelligent Transport System for safer and smarter road infrastructure

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) represent a particularly relevant set of tools in the mobility sector, offering new advanced approaches to improving transportation efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Indeed, the rapid expansion of metropolitan areas, coupled with the introduction of new services, has increased the complexity of resource and vehicle management, requiring more advanced tools to optimize safety and traffic flow. In recent years, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) have therefore emerged as an important range of tools in the field of mobility, thanks to the integration of advanced technologies such as IoT sensors and communication systems that enable traffic coordination, infrastructure monitoring, and the reduction of critical issues related to accidents.

According to 2024 research by Berg Insight, the ITS market will experience strong growth in the coming years, with the market value for ITS used in public transport in Europe rising from €2.15 billion in 2022 to €2.92 billion in 2027, a compound annual growth rate of +6.3 percent. Rapid deployment will also depend oninteroperability of technologies, as demonstrated by the ITxPT (Information Technology for Public Transport) standard , which promotes shared use and communication between different components of public transport, fostering a network of open, modular and compatible systems.

The adoption of ITS has thus been further accelerated by the need to digitize infrastructure and address complex challenges, such as optimizing traffic and safety in large urban centers whose roads are increasingly congested. One of the most promising developments in this area is precisely the integration of ITS within Smart Roads, smart roads equipped with integrated technologies for traffic management, safety and vehicle interaction. Through the use of sensors, wireless networks, fast data and artificial intelligence, road infrastructures become proactive, enabling the acquisition and processing of real time data to manage traffic flows more efficiently, monitor the health of infrastructure, optimize public transportation and develop more sustainable and safer mobility solutions.

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) represent a set of technologies designed to improve transportation efficiency and safety. Through the use of intelligent sensors, communication platforms that connect vehicles and infrastructure in real time, and advanced algorithms for data analysis, ITS enable traffic monitoring, optimize vehicular flows, and ensure sustainability and safety.

One of the main capabilities of ITS is the ability to monitor traffic status in real time through the use of IoT sensors, cameras and communication systems, which provide a comprehensive and constantly updated view of the road situation. This enables timely intervention in the event of congestion or accidents, improving the quality of travel for all users. In addition, vehicular flow management can take place through smart traffic lights, adaptive traffic control systems and dynamic signage, which are key tools for optimizing traffic flow and reducing travel time.

ITS also promotes sustainable mobility through the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the promotion of car sharing systems and the introduction of incentives for shared mobility. These technologies aim to reduce the environmental impact of the transportation sector by promoting a transition to greener modes of travel.

Another key objective of ITS is to ensure road safety by identifying any critical issues in advance and providing targeted interventions to prevent structural problems or risky situations. Technologies such asIoT monitoring enable continuous monitoring of road infrastructure, providing essential data for planning maintenance interventions and thus improving the reliability of road networks. This approach not only increases safety for all users, but also enables more efficient management of resources, ensuring optimal use of funds allocated for infrastructure maintenance and innovation.

At the European level, Directive 2010/40/EU, updated in the new ITS Directive, laid the foundation for a harmonized framework in the development of Intelligent Transport Systems. Over the years, the directive has been updated and expanded to meet the growing needs of digital and connected mobility: the new ITS Directive of 2023 confirms and reorganizes the four priority areas in which ITS must operate, highlighting key areas for the future of intelligent transport:

• Priority Area I: ITS services for multimodal mobility, advanced navigation and traffic information with the aim of fostering integrated transport systems.
• Priority Area II: Advanced traffic and logistics management, with a focus on interoperability, service continuity and multimodality.
• Priority Area III: Road safety technologies, such as the eCall system, safe parking for trucks, and tools for vulnerable users.
• Priority Area IV: Cooperative and automated mobility, based on Cooperative Intelligent Transport System (C-ITS) systems to support autonomous vehicles, traffic management and infrastructure interoperability.

In Italy, the regulatory framework related to Intelligent Transport Systems and Smart Roads is outlined by three decrees:

• The Decree No. 70 of Feb. 28, 2018 which set the first standards for the development of smart roads in our country, establishing guidelines for testing autonomous vehicles.
• The Italy Experimentation Decree (No. 76/2020), which aims to encourage the experimentation of innovative projects in poorly regulated technological areas, including Smart Roads.
• The Decree No. 493 of December 3, 2021 which expanded the regulatory framework by introducing guidelines for risk assessment and safety of bridges, viaducts and other works, strengthening the monitoring of strategic infrastructure for safe and connected mobility.

The integration of ITS within Smart Roads is a crucial step toward smart, sustainable mobility that meets growing demands for efficiency and safety. ITS technologies provide processing and analytical capabilities that enable Smart Roads to dynamically adapt to different conditions, reducing risks and ensuring timely intervention in emergency situations.

With IoT sensors installed along roads, a wide range of data can be collected and used effectively. This data makes it possible, for example, to adjust traffic light signals according to traffic volumes, monitor real-time weather conditions and infrastructure status, and provide useful information for quick decisions in case of danger. Vehicle-to-everything ( V2X ) communication systems that integrate different types of communication, including V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) and V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure), also enable connected mobility, ensuring real-time data exchange between vehicles and infrastructure. Data processing platforms then enable rapid analysis of collected information, supporting effective decisions.

These technologies find application in numerous areas. For example, continuous structural monitoring ensures safety by preventing subsidence or collapse, while vehicle weight monitoring helps protect road infrastructure from the stresses of heavy loads.

Among the recurring issues related to infrastructure safety is the need to operate in a timely manner in case of potential hazards that could damage road networks and cause serious accidents. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems equipped with IoT sensors provide constant monitoring of the health of infrastructure: they are able to detect any changes in the condition of the structure, such as cracks or subsidence, and send alerts in real time, enabling timely intervention. Supporting Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems is Building Information Modeling (BIM), a key technology for managing infrastructure information. With the ability to integrate data from IoT sensors within detailed three-dimensional models, BIM enables advanced digital representation of infrastructure, facilitating more efficient monitoring and planning of maintenance interventions.

Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) technology, on the other hand, enables dynamic monitoring of truck weight so that preventive maintenance can intervene to avoid critical issues related to deterioration of bridges and viaducts.

Moreover, the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events makes it imperative to improve environmental risk management and infrastructure safety, preventing potential risk situations. In this context, Environmental Monitoring platforms and GIS maps (orbyta.it/insights/monitoring-environmental-maps-gis) prove to be key tools for collecting and analyzing environmental data, detecting sources of pollution, monitoring climate change, and preventing natural disasters, for example, by identifying areas potentially exposed to landslide or flood risk.

The digitization of mobility is not limited to security, but embraces crucial aspects such as operational efficiency andresource optimization. In particular, the use of data platforms and connected solutions makes it possible to collect and analyze huge amounts of information in real time, facilitating dynamic and predictive management of infrastructure and traffic flows. These tools not only improve traffic flow and accessibility of public transportation, but also find application in highly innovative contexts such as motorsport, demonstrating the versatility and transformative potential of digital technologies also applied to different areas of mobility.

The introduction of the Free Flow system for toll booth-free tolling represents one of the most relevant technologies in the transportation sector, not only in terms of efficiency and sustainability, but also for road safety. Through the use of cameras and sensors, the system allows vehicles to cross toll barriers without the need to stop, thus eliminating the risks associated with sudden braking and reducing congestion around physical toll booths. Pollutant emissions associated with forced stops are also limited, and the often large costs of building and maintaining toll booths are greatly reduced.

For those who use public transportation, it is critical to have access to tools that simplify travel planning and improve the overall travel experience. The development of mobile apps for public transportation enables the integration of various features that address these needs, optimizing service significantly.

Local public transport apps allow users to leverage real-time data provided by connected infrastructure to offer timely updates to users on schedules, delays and alternate routes, while also supporting features such as electronic ticket purchase and management.

The increasing amount of data generated in the smart mobility sector requires advanced platforms for real-time collection, processing and analysis. Technologies such as IoT sensors and ITS devices produce streams of fast data that require high-performance technology architectures to transform them into strategic information.

Real-time data platforms, based on scalable and resilient microservice architectures, are key tools in this area. Designed to manage and process large volumes of data at high speeds, these platforms ensure reliable performance and minimize data loss risks.

In Smart Roads, for example, they integrate data from road sensors and ITS devices to provide an up-to-date view of the state of infrastructure and traffic: in this way it becomes possible to monitor vehicular flows in real time, quickly identify points of congestion and propose alternative routes to improve traffic flow, while, in more specialized areas such as motorsport, they enable simultaneous processing of video, audio and telemetry data ensuring rapid and reliable analysis to optimize operational performance.