GeoCam and RINA: Enhancing Infrastructure Management with Advanced AI-Driven Technology

The Project

GeoCam and RINA, an international engineering consultancy company, conducted a detailed assessment and inventory of guardrail terminals across the roadways of a major state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) in the US. Led by David Hurst, the head of RINA's digital asset management group, this initiative aimed to improve safety, streamline data collection, and enhance infrastructure management.

Key Challenges

The State DOT faced a significant issue with outdated and potentially dangerous recalled guardrail terminals across the state, necessitating a complete inventory and evaluation of these installations. Specific goals included:

• Identifying and Quantifying Affected Terminals: Identifying the quantity and locations of the recalled guardrails with problematic end terminals that required replacement.

• Improving Data Quality and Accuracy: Ensuring accurate data collection for physical verification and simplified maintenance planning.

• Reducing Safety Risks: Minimizing the need for boots-on-the-ground during inventory to reduce safety risks in high-traffic areas.

Previously, gathering such data required a combination of manual inspections and very basic vehicle-mounted instruments, resulting in limited or inconsistent information. With the introduction of GeoCam’s AI-Based Reality Capture Platform, RINA and the State DOT were able to use high-resolution, 3D imaging that delivered precise, visual data, enhancing both safety and data quality.

GeoCam camera mounted on a vehicle

Project Solution

1. GeoCam’s Flexible Technology
Mounted on vehicles, GeoCam’s high-resolution cameras allowed the team to collect comprehensive datasets from a variety of terrains and infrastructure types, which produced several benefits:

• Adaptable Tech: GeoCam’s cameras can be easily mounted on vehicles and potentially drones, providing flexibility in capturing data across primary and secondary roadways.

• High Accuracy: The system achieved a 10 centimeter accuracy threshold, greatly exceeding State DOT’s expectations and standard requirements, which was particularly valuable in identifying and pinpointing guardrail terminal locations accurately.

• 360-Degree Visual Confirmation: Using GeoCam’s 360-degree imagery allowed State DOT to visually verify guardrail conditions with minimal manual field verification, reducing in-person inspection demands and enhancing overall safety.

2. Advanced Data Collection and Processing Workflow
RINA’s team was able to leverage GeoCam’s structured approach to collecting and processing data and imagery:

• Data Model Creation: In collaboration with RINA’s asset management team, GeoCam developed unique data models to capture specific images and key characteristics of guardrail terminals, as well as the surrounding environment.

• Image Processing and Feature Extraction: The team used custom models to identify guardrail types, assess damage levels, and categorize locations. GeoCam’s AI-Driven Reality Capture Platform enabled advanced feature recognition, such as distinguishing between different terminal types (e.g., MSKT, crash cushion), significantly improving the accuracy and specificity of the data.

• Third-Party Field Verification: A third-party firm verified specific features of the project to ensure data quality, particularly on secondary and overgrown roads. This provided additional quality control, ensuring the most critical installations were accurately cataloged.

3. Real-Time Benefits for Infrastructure Planning
As data collection progressed, the State DOT was able to make immediate use of the dataset for other infrastructure projects, including a road-widening initiative that required guardrail data along specific mile markers. This real-time application demonstrated the practicality and usability of the data collected through the GeoCam platform.

One of Over 50,000 Objects: Transition Bridge Attachment tagged in 3D via GeoCam camera and platform

Project Outcomes

Enhanced Safety and Efficiency
By using GeoCam’s technology, RINA significantly reduced the need for in-person inspections, enhancing safety for field personnel and reducing project costs. This approach also minimized disruption on busy roadways, where traditional data collection could have required lane closures and personnel exposed to potential hazards.

Improved Data Accuracy and Usability
The system’s imaging and positional accuracy exceeded the initial specifications, providing the State DOT with high-confidence data for ongoing and future maintenance and safety assessments. By documenting nearly 50,000 guardrail terminals with 3D visual imagery, the project achieved a level of detail previously unattainable.

Increased Long-Term Utility and Predictive Capabilities
Beyond immediate data needs, the State DOT now possesses a detailed baseline dataset for ongoing infrastructure management. This data provides the foundation for future predictive analysis, enabling the State DOT to plan maintenance and replacements proactively. Additionally, the flexibility of GeoCam’s technology has the potential for repeated use, creating year-over-year comparisons to monitor asset changes, environmental impacts, and long-term wear patterns.

Key Takeaways and Lessons

1. Adaptable Technology for Varied Environments
GeoCam’s flexible setup allowed the technology to capture both urban and rural data efficiently, which is critical for diverse environments like statewide roadway system. This adaptability facilitates potential expansion to other areas of infrastructure management.

2. Data Quality that Enhances Decision-Making
The project demonstrated the power of visual, geolocated data in gaining user confidence. The high-resolution imagery allowed the State DOT’s stakeholders to visually confirm terminal types and locations, creating a more reliable basis for decision-making and reducing ambiguity in maintenance planning.

3. Future Applications for Time-Series Analysis
A promising future application of this technology is time-series analysis. The State DOT can now consider using GeoCam’s technology to track infrastructure changes over time, offering insights into the cumulative impact of wear, weather, and traffic on assets. This potential extends beyond safety infrastructure, suggesting applications for environmental monitoring, emergency preparedness, and post-disaster assessment.

Conclusion

This collaboration between RINA, GeoCam, and the State DOT exemplifies the potential of innovative digital capture technology in public infrastructure management. The State DOT’s success with this technology not only provides a template for future projects but highlights the ongoing evolution of GIS-based asset management and its critical role in creating safer, smarter public infrastructure.