Digital Road Patrol System

What is the Digital Road Patrol System?

The Digital Road Patrol System leverages AI to automatically detect, report, and manage road damage and hazards. The system transmits footage from vehicle-mounted dashcams to a cloud server, where real-time analysis of stored footage detects and manages problem areas.
When detecting issues, the system categorizes and maps various issues, including potholes, depressions, cracks, shoulder erosion, fallen rocks, and debris. This feature enables users to assess road conditions at a glance and take immediate action to address issues.
Where traditional inspections required two-person patrols and manual checks, the Digital Road Patrol System reduces labor demands significantly and streamlines road infrastructure management.

1. 　Records roads using dashcams mounted on road patrol vehicles
2. 　Sends recorded footage and locations to the server
3. 　Analyzes data with AI on the cloud to detect road conditions
4. 　Displays the detection results and action reports on the map

Advantages of Using the Digital Road Patrol System

1.AI accurately detects road anomalies
and is customizable for various environments

The Digital Road Patrol System, developed through joint research with Kobe University and built on a world-class AI model, automatically detects road damage and hazards with high precision.
Object-tracking technology prevents repeated detection of the same anomaly. Adjustable detection sensitivity allows users to modify thresholds to adapt the system to different road conditions and types of damage, ensuring high versatility.
Another major advantage of the Digital Road Patrol System is its compatibility with road infrastructure inspections across diverse environments, both domestically and internationally.

2.Dashcam image analysis detects problem areas and sends reports,
ensuring up-to-date information at all times

Patrol vehicles use dashcams, jointly developed with SMART MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS Co., Ltd. to capture road footage. The system uploads the footage to the cloud in real time, where AI immediately analyzes it, detects anomalies, and stores the data. Using the transmitted location information, the system maps any issues detected with pins alongside the patrol route history and reports them to administrators. Administrators can then assess conditions, determine whether action is necessary, and issue work requests accordingly. This setup enables swift emergency responses while also reducing unnecessary interventions.
AI also updates completed response records, ensuring administrators always have access to the latest road conditions.

Detected anomalies are pinned alongside patrol route history.

Click a pin to view details, check the location, and determine if action is required.

Specifications required for analysis
The Digital Road Patrol System analyzes dashcam footage at 13 frames per second (13 FPS). While 13 FPS is considered a low frame rate, pilot tests confirmed that this rate provides sufficient accuracy for detecting road defects.
Lowering the frame rate also reduces the processing load on AI, enabling faster analysis.

3.Addresses labor shortages while reducing costs

In Japan, road patrols are conducted in two-person teams. Patrolling roads requires specialized knowledge and experience to detect road defects from a moving vehicle. With the Digital Road Patrol System, AI handles detection, enabling single-person patrols and eliminating the need for specialized expertise and experience.
This automation reduces labor costs while also saving time on inspections and lowering vehicle maintenance expenses. As a result, patrollers can monitor and maintain more roads, even with limited resources.

4.Aggregates wide-scaled, detailed road data to support safer roads

Implementing the Digital Road Patrol System makes monitoring wide-scale road conditions easier than before, leading to more comprehensive data.
The system helps formulate effective and efficient patrol plans while also by reducing administrative burdens of patrolling. e-Grid strives to enhance the system to ensure safe, comfortable roads for residents and visitors alike.

Pilot Tests in Japan and Thailand

Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Introduced four patrol vehicles with dashcams for city roads in Izumo

Chonburi Province, Thailand
Pilot tests underway on the Burapha Withi Expressway (between Bangkok and Chonburi)