New technology is set to be trialled to improve the safety of the road network in Kent.
A grant of £2 million has been pledged to develop research and trial the innovative technology. Kent County Council and Amey will explore how data and technology can improve decision-making for the future of our highways as part of the ADEPT SMART Places Live Labs programme.
The project will be trialling key innovations that will enable highways staff to make intelligent operational decisions based on machine learning and data science analytics. Some of the trials identified include intelligent traffic modelling devices, computer vision that will assess the rate at which the road surfaces degrade and provide information that will assist staff when making decisions on when a new road scheme needs to be built. Computer traffic counting assessment will also be developed for potential utilisation when new road schemes are being planned and built.
Additionally, sensor technology is being used across a range of highway assets including drains to mitigate against flooding events and sensors measuring road surface temperature to enable smarter gritting during the winter months. The Project team will also be developing an operational analytics platform to integrate all data and innovations within the service.
David Ogden, Business Director at Amey, explained: "This ADEPT Live Labs investment enables us to carry out live technology testing where real data will affect the outcomes, giving us a much clearer idea of the success – or failure – of each innovation than ever before.
"This is important work for the good of the county's roads and, ultimately, for the good of the country, as we work in partnership with Kent County Council to test these long-term solutions to improve the highways network."
Giles Perkins, Programme Director for ADEPT Live Labs, added: "We developed ADEPT's Live Labs programme to create partnerships between industry and local authorities to test and develop scaleable solutions the rapid changes we are seeing in the transport sector. Over the next two years, the insights and learning from Kent, and the other seven Live Labs, will be invaluable for local authorities and industry right across the UK and beyond."
(CM/MH)
Construction News
18/03/2020
Grant Pledged To Support Innovative Road Tech


18/07/2025
Clowes Developments, in partnership with Roe Developments, has officially begun enabling works for the next phase of Stud Brook Business Park in Castle Donington.
The latest expansion will deliver five new trade counter, warehouse, and industrial units, ranging in size from 3,229 sq ft to 4,606 sq

18/07/2025
The Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership between Countryside Partnerships (part of the Vistry Group) and Bracknell Forest Council has celebrated a major milestone in the transformation of Bracknell town centre, as its 169-home Market Street regeneration scheme reaches its highest point.
A topping o

18/07/2025
Construction has officially begun on Reading's newest performance venue, as work starts on the new Studio Theatre being built alongside The Hexagon.
The first phase of the project, led by Feltham Construction Ltd, includes the demolition of the existing backstage area, dock, and stage door on Queen

18/07/2025
A disused shop unit in Spennymoor has been given a new lease of life, thanks to a regeneration project that has turned the space into a green community garden in the heart of the County Durham town.
The former retail premises at 55–63 Festival Walk, which had remained vacant despite efforts to attr

18/07/2025
Wates Residential business has awarded £45,000 in funding to seven grassroots organisations in Brent through its newly launched Community Chest initiative.
The programme is designed to support small, community-led projects that address pressing local needs such as social isolation, youth services,

18/07/2025
Network Rail (Wales and Borders) has commenced a major programme of engineering works across key rail routes in South Wales, aimed at maintaining and improving the safety and reliability of the region's railway network.
Running from Saturday 2 August to Monday 11 August, the works will focus on tra

18/07/2025
A significant milestone has been reached in the drive to deliver high-quality, affordable, and sustainable housing across York and North Yorkshire with the launch of a new Affordable Homes Standard.
Led by the York and North Yorkshire Housing Partnership, the Standard marks a united commitment from

18/07/2025
Mace has been appointed to Transport for Greater Manchester's (TfGM) next-generation Transport and Professional Services (TPS2025) Framework, earning a place on the Project Cost and Commercial Management Lot.
The appointment extends Mace's successful partnership with TfGM and the Greater Manchester

17/07/2025
Pennyfarthing Homes has received detailed planning approval for the first 74 homes at Sandle Park, a new residential development forming part of the wider Forde Valley neighbourhood, located just a mile northwest of Fordingbridge town centre.
The approval, granted by New Forest District Council's P

17/07/2025
Bouygues UK has officially handed over the first phase of the Cotswolds Designer Outlet in Tewkesbury to regional developer and investor Robert Hitchins Ltd, with the new retail destination opening its doors to the public for the first time.
As lead contractor, Bouygues UK delivered 136,000 sq ft o