A fleet of drones for A22 safety

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor)- Technology and safety. This is the combination chosen by Autostrada del Brennero to be efficient and safeguard the entire motorway. Hence the company's choice of a plan to equip its bridges and viaducts with sophisticatedsensor systems in order to monitor their state of health. The A22 has also acquired a fleet of drones to check the state of preservation of the infrastructure in order to discover any criticalities better and earlier and thus be able to intervene very promptly. At the same time, these electronic 'senses' can be very useful in mobility management.

Millions of cars and heavy goods vehicles travel along bridges and viaducts every year, subjecting the structures to various stresses and often accelerating their wear. Added to this are temperature fluctuations and weather events (rain and snow). In this context, prevention has considerable advantages: on the one hand, it allows more effective interventions, capable of prolonging the life of the structures themselves and adapting them to the loads currently passing along the motorway; on the other hand, it allows operations to be carried out with a schedule that impacts as little as possible on traffic and traffic.

Through highly sophisticated sensors, it is possible to detect different types of information, which are then conveyed and processed by a single software. These range from classical topographical stations, which measure the displacement field, to temperature sensors, dynamic accelerometers that detect the effect of transits on the bridge structure and seismic accelerometers, and even hydrometers and sonars for hydraulic monitoring. Systems of this type have already been installed on two of the most significant works on the A22, the bridge over the Po and the Colle Isarco Viaduct, where it has also been decided to create the Digital Twin of the bridge itself. With the appropriate adjustments according to the context, Autobrennero wants to install similar systems on all its major works. And what is not picked up by the sensors is intercepted by the drones. Thanks to these flight systems, it is in fact possible to inspect bridges and tunnels in places that are not so easily and punctually accessible to man, so as to check their condition; but it is also possible to monitor and map, thanks to the images captured by the aircraft, the stability of slopes and conduct topographical surveys.

The use of technology, however, is not only limited to infrastructure works but also extends to parking. A need that has arisen from the huge amount of goods that transit on the A22. Over 10 per cent of Italy's exports travel along this motorway artery, which translates into over 60 million tonnes of goods. Precisely in view of the large volume of transit traffic, the company decided to participate as coordinator in the European call for tenders Cef-T-2021-Safemobgen, proposing the Pass4Core-Ita-2 project. The aim of the project is to develop a network of safe parking areas for heavy goods vehicles along the Italian Ten-T road network, areas to be built with the highest standards of safety, security, quality, connectivity and transparency. In particular, the company's goal was to certify the parking areas 'Sadobre', 'Interporto di Trento Nord' and 'Rovereto Sud' as 'Safe & Secure'. Trento and Rovereto have completed the process for the silver level while work is in progress for Sadobre (Bronze level). Ensuring car parks with high safety standards has an impact on the performance of truck drivers, offers a more serene stop and a consequently quieter and safer journey. And safety comes, once again, through digitalisation. In addition to refreshments and comfortable sanitary facilities, these areas offer 24-hour assistance, wifi connection, charging points, video surveillance systems and the latest generation of regulated access.