ROADWAY
INSPECTION

AUTOSTRADE PER L'ITALIA IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY TRAFFIC PATTERNS ARE MONITRED AND ANALYZED WITH HEXTRONICS DRONE NESTS, RESULTING IN SAFER AND MORE EFFICIENT ROADWAYS

ABOUT AUTOSTRADE

Headquartered in Italy, Autostrade per l’Italia ranks among the top toll highway operators in Europe. With approximately 3,000 km of managed network in Italy, it connects 15 regions and 60 provinces, providing an essential mobility service to the major metropolitan areas, along with its subsidiaries. Autostrade per l’Italia stands as the largest private investor in the country, with a substantial investment plan of approximately 21 billion euros. The company employs over 7,000 people who are actively involved in upgrading the road network, supported by its various subsidiaries:

- Movyon leads in providing advanced technological solutions and innovative systems, specializing in research, development, and the integration of hardware and software for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).

- Tecne focuses on managing and overseeing engineering projects related to network development, including work supervision and monitoring.

- Amplia handles road construction, maintenance, and modernization efforts, as well as the development of new materials and technologies for paving roads.

And more, including Free to X, Elgea, Ad Moving, Youverse, and Giove Clear who are interested in maintaining the cleanliness of external spaces, promoting sustainability, and environmental conservation.

CASE DETAILS

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SMART INSPECTIONS FOR SAFER ROADS

SMART INSPECTIONS

FOR SAFER ROADS

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Hextronics is proud to provide the technology which enables efficient traffic monitoring to equip Autostrade per l'italia and Movyon with the means to make a significant impact on public safety.

Autostrade per l’Italia is using drones to enhance traffic monitoring and support their management teams through the experimental Falco program, now in its second phase. Remotely piloted from the Genoa control center, the drones monitor highway traffic, even in areas without cameras. The initiative, in collaboration with Movyon, aims to improve safety and efficiency for drivers.

In collaboration with ENAC, Italy’s National Civil Aviation Authority, Autostrade per l’Italia received authorization to operate drones in BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line Of Sight) mode at five Ligurian highway sites. Chosen for their challenging terrain, these areas benefit from drones monitoring traffic, detecting critical situations, and keeping travelers informed. This initiative is part of Aspi’s larger effort to improve traffic flow.

Hextronics' Global houses the drone for charging and launching, enabling the drone to patrol assigned routes in the second phase of the project. Remotely controlled by traffic centers, they provide real-time video of traffic and infrastructure. Missions can be scheduled or activated on-demand during events like traffic jams or fires. These drones also monitor road signs, construction sites, and surfaces, helping alert authorities and identify needed infrastructure repairs, all while adhering to strict safety protocols.

“With the Falco Project, we are testing the use of drones for real-time traffic monitoring […] This will allow us to better manage traffic flows, increasing safety for users."

After the second experimental phase, data collection will help develop AI for detecting incidents like stopped vehicles and accidents. In the future, the drone monitoring system could become a regular part of network patrols, improving issue detection, response times, and service quality. The Falco project is part of the broader Mercury Program, aimed at creating safer, more digital, and eco-friendly highway infrastructure through innovative technology.

“The ultimate goal is to create a digitized and automated network that provides more timely and accurate information to both those who use it and those who manage it.”
- Roberto Tomasi, CEO of Autostrade per l’Italia.

THE NUMBERS OF THE SECOND PHASE OF FALCO (Aug 23 - July 24)

SCHEDULED FLIGHTS

1407 missions planned (success rate: 82%; of unlaunched missions, 70% due to weather)

191 hours of flight

2837 km travelled

FLIGHTS ON CALL

53 missions on call

12.5 hours of flight

84 km travelled

EVIDENCE

11% increase in detected events

50% reduction in intervention times

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Ronald Knezevich, the State Safety Engineering Supervisor for the Georgia Department of Transportation (pictured above), oversees the management of funds for the Highway Safety Improvement Program and other federal funds. Operating from Georgia's traffic control center, his primary focus is on reducing roadway fatalities throughout the state.

Knezevich emphasized how drones can significantly improve time efficiency in traffic counts. “To calculate annual average daily traffic, we monitor traffic for 24 to 48 hours,” he explained. “hat’s where drones become an effective tool because we have to complete this process multiple times for every of the thousand projects that we have programmed for the DOT.” He added, “For a survey of a single intersection, costs are typically under $100,000, but for a corridor one to two miles long, the cost can exceed $100,000, reaching up to $200,000.” According to Ronald, these surveys are conducted at least once a year, as required by federal regulations.

At Hextronics, we are committed to harnessing the potential of new technology to create a safer environment for communities at risk of wildfires. Our drone-in-a-box technology improves the way firefighters and private landowners detect and prevent wildfires.

“Utilizing drones or even just aerial imagery or other data sources earlier on can make it a lot cheaper and allow us to answer some critical decisions about right-of-way.”
- rONALD KNEZEVICH

Drones provide aerial perspectives that are essential for inspecting infrastructure and responding quickly to maintenance issues and emergencies. They are used for a variety of tasks, including monitoring road signs, traffic flow, construction sites, accidents, pavement conditions, and surrounding greenery. This valuable data helps authorities swiftly deploy law enforcement and rescue teams when necessary, as well as identify areas in need of repairs or restoration.

While manual drones can reduce time and costs compared to human-based inspections, they are often difficult to operate, unreliable in GPS-denied areas, and have inadequate obstacle avoidance, requiring extensive training to avoid crashes. In contrast, autonomous drones eliminate the need for this entirely, by scheduling autonomous missions, the resources required to monitor a specific stretch of road for 48 hours is reduced significantly.

Autonomous drones overcome traditional challenges, such as needing pilots, traveling to remote locations, and requiring on-site presence, by offering user-friendly, time-efficient solutions. They streamline operations, improve data sharing and processing, and eliminate the need for extensive industry knowledge. Their key advantages include maximizing operation time, enabling quick launches, providing faster responses, and enhancing situational awareness.

In addition to drone-specific advancements, the integration of computer vision analysis software—capable of detecting cracks, leaks, unstable infrastructure, and safety hazards—makes autonomous drones an ideal solution across various industries. These tools contribute to a more sustainable future by enhancing the safety and security of roadways worldwide. Autonomous drones also improve the efficiency of inspections, reporting, maintenance, and transportation, promoting a safer and more reliable infrastructure management process.

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