Connected and Automated Driving (CAD) will bring disruption to individuals, economies, and society. Most forms of CAD require some level of support from the infrastructure for their safe operation, in particular communications. However, additional infrastructure services to support CAD could improve safety and robustness and bring further benefits such as increased capacity. However, the infrastructure requirements of vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are not always clear, and it is therefore difficult for National Road Authorities (NRA) to prepare future levels of support for CAD, given rapidly evolving technology and uncertain projections of future CAD demand. There is a need to articulate those requirements, bringing stakeholders together to formulate a structured approach, and a roadmap that will advance safe and smart roads that support CAD.

This paper presents the DiREC project (consortium partners: TRL, ARUP, TU Delft, VTT, VTI and FEHRL) funded by the CEDR Transnational Road Research Programme Call 2020 with funding provided by CEDR members of Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. DiREC is seeking to address the above challenge. The project has established a CAV-Readiness Framework (CRF) based on a level of service approach to understand the needs of CAD, and to define the infrastructure and services that NRAs could provide to support these needs.

National Road Authorities (NRAs) draw on a wide range of technologies and tools to support robust decisions on asset maintenance. However, in recent years there has been significant progress in the development of sensing technologies for data collection and advanced techniques for data processing. These technologies present an opportunity to improve asset management decisions, but also present a challenge for NRAs, as they seek to realise the benefits. This contribution presents the appraisal methodology for emerging technologies proposed by the INFRACOMS project commissioned by the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR). The methodology provides objective appraisals since technologies are scrutinised against proposed subsequent criteria. Cost factors, potential benefit categories and limitations are identified. Technologies are ranked by key imperatives and scored. Technologies with a good score are evaluated more thoroughly, which may need specialist input and discussions with the technology supplier. It results in a technical score, a benefit/cost assessment and identified steps in a roadmap toward implementation. The NRAs can share their individual appraisals in a database. The second part of the project develops an action plan to guide NRAs in adapting and implementing promising emerging technologies and training sessions on the use of the developed appraisal toolkit.

Transportation infrastructure demands reliable, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and safe solutions. It is, therefore, crucial to leverage both the knowledge gained from current practices and the potential offered by emerging technologies. This paper uses the scoring system approached in the INFRACOMS project to offer a framework for asset managers and technology providers to identify areas of improvement and make informed decisions regarding selecting and implementing remote condition monitoring solutions. We focus on two technologies for bridges, like bridge weigh-in-motion and digital inspection and centre around four areas: data analysis, visualisation and integration and potential for practical decision-making. Technologies are evaluated based on their intended use, acknowledging that some may have multiple applications due to novel sensor installations or data interpretation/visualisation methods. Consequently, a technology may undergo multiple appraisals within this system. We showcase the benefits of the scoring system, alignment with specific use cases, and potential for broad applicability.