ApGeo, an algorithm for road surface mapping
THE APGEO PROJECT
The Asturian company ApGeo had the objective of analysing road surfaces from the air, and wanted to do so with meticulous precision. This aspiration to capture large areas with high resolution became a reality thanks to the technical advice it received from our partner CETEMAS, through the services it provides within the framework of AsDIH.
WHAT PROBLEMS ARE THEY SEEKING TO SOLVE OR IMPROVE?
Thoroughly checking the condition of roads is a time-consuming and difficult task. For that reason, CETEMAS proposed to develop an algorithm that would use data captured with an ApGeo mobile laser scanner (MLS) to automatically detect and map road surfaces.
WHAT DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IS USED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM?
MLS is a geospatial data capture technology that uses laser systems mounted on mobile platforms to measure and record the physical characteristics of the environment. The system emits pulses of light and measures the time it takes for them to return to the sensor after bouncing off objects, allowing the exact distance between the sensor and the scanned objects to be calculated.
Operating from vehicles or mobile systems, it quickly captures large areas with high resolution, generating point clouds that represent the observed environment.
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS, AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT?
The feasibility of the algorithm is currently being tested to determine its usefulness. So far, it has been tested in four areas with different characteristics, to evaluate its performance.
The results obtained show that it is possible to detect the road axis from data taken with an MLS. However, the algorithm will have to face several challenges before it can efficiently handle massive volumes of data.
Currently, it requires a parameter tuning process for a specific dataset, which limits its applicability in widespread use scenarios without significant intervention.
You can read the full report on this collaboration between ApGEO and CETEMAS in Conecta magazine.
ABOUT ApGEO
A technology-based start-up company belonging to the Excade Group, ApGEO specializes in digitization, 3D modelling, point clouds, reality capture, digital twins, smart technologies, monitoring and sensing, among many other things.
AsDIH is part of the European network of EDIH (European Digital Innovation Hubs) and provides services to SMEs through the Digital Innovation Hubs Support Program (PADIH), within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan — Funded by the European Union — NextGenerationEU.
