Improving Safety in the Maintenance of Infrastructures: Design of a UAV-Based System for Work zone Monitoring

Abstract

Considering the crucial role in the economy of road infrastructure, their maintenance is of the utmost importance. Robotization and automation of maintenance works can help to promote the efficiency and sustainability of the transportation network. At the same time, work zones foresee an increased risk of accidents and injuries. In this context, work zone traffic monitoring during maintenance can help to reduce the number of accidents and injuries. This manuscript describes the high-level design of an optical system using artificial intelligence and based on the operation of remotely piloted systems to enhance the segmentation and signaling of work areas to minimize risks both for road users and maintenance workers in the presence of automated robotic solutions. The future trends and steps in the project will include the low-level design and the implementation of the system.