Project Summary
University of Nottingham is developing sensor-based technologies to embed within aggregates in pavement structures that can communicate its condition and with other road infrastructure in real time. This could be used to sense and report the construction quality and service condition of a carriageway through wireless communication, and also held improve the interaction and positioning of connected autonomous vehicles. This project will validate the feasibility of using smart aggregates equipped with multifunctional sensors to digitise the road transport system and in the long term communicate with other road infrastructure entities, with minimal disruption to the pavement structure using Metaverse based technologies.
Project Achievements
The achievements of this project include presenting a novel approach that integrates virtual physics-based engines with data-driven sensor technologies for the real-time monitoring of road pavements; establishing a framework for the development of a digital-twin-enabled cyber-physical platform for efficient pavement management and real-time monitoring of road networks. The output from this project contributes to the application of digital twins in the domain of road transportation for efficient pavement design and construction, as well as real-time condition monitoring.
Conclusions
Sensors termed as “smart rocks” are capable of effectively monitoring the real-time response of the asphalt mixture by capturing the changes in its mechanical behaviour over time. These changes in the mechanical response could be linked to various distresses, which ultimately lead to expensive premature pavement failures. Physics engines, on the other hand, have the potential to simulate the compaction of realistic virtual asphalt mixture specimens. The successful validation of the asphalt virtual model demonstrated the ability of the model to accurately simulate the dynamic behaviour of aggregates during the compaction stage of the pavement construction. The integration of these smart sensors and physics engine technologies showed significant potential for the development of a digital twin-enabled cyber-physical platform for a road network. It is anticipated that this platform will aid in optimising the pavement construction process and facilitate condition monitoring by providing real-time insights about the service condition of the pavement.
Next Steps
The next steps for this project involve conducting field investigations utilising smart rocks, with an emphasis on enhancing their capabilities to monitor road pavement responses under varying environmental and
loading conditions. Concurrently, research will focus on refining the virtual model of the asphalt mixture to more accurately simulate its behaviour under dynamic loading scenarios. A key objective is to complete the integration of the asphalt virtual model with real-time sensor data, which will include the development of algorithms formulated to update the virtual model in real-time, ensuring that it reflects the actual state of the road. This will facilitate a continuous exchange of information between the virtual model and the physical asset. To further elevate the capabilities of the cyber-physical platform, we are planning strategic collaborations with leading technology providers, enabling us to leverage other cutting-edge sensor technologies to optimise the overall functionality of the cyber-physical platform.
