The new ANAS apps for tunnel and barrier census
The Enterprise Digital Evolution BU has developed two applications for ANAS to monitor the state of road infrastructures in real-time and improve road safety in Italy.
Two new applications developed by Mashfrog for ANAS are now live: Barrier Inspections and TMS 1.0, respectively for the inspection of road barriers and the census of tunnels. These applications, developed on the SAP platform, allow for the cataloging and real-time monitoring of the state of road infrastructures, improving the efficiency of inspections and maintenance management. They represent a significant step forward in the use of technology for road maintenance.
Barrier Inspection App: a census that wasn't there
The app for the inspection of road barriers has been designed to catalog the state of about 30,000 km of barriers, including guard rails and other similar structures present on roads managed by ANAS. Using mobile devices, ANAS technicians or external contracting companies can inspect the barriers and record data in real-time. This application, created with the SAP Mobile Development Kit (MDK) technology, allows for a detailed analysis of the condition of the barriers and, through an algorithm, determines whether maintenance, replacement, or simply recording the current situation is necessary. In the future, integration with the SAP PM module is planned to automatically trigger maintenance alerts in case of barrier deterioration.
TMS 1.0 App: all tunnels in one database
The other innovative app is dedicated to the census of Italian road tunnels, of which ANAS manages almost 5,000 units. Like the previous one, this tool was developed using the SAP Mobile Development Kit (MDK) and allows for following a detailed 34-page form provided by the Ministry of Transport. The complexity of this application lies in meticulously filling out the forms for each tunnel, documenting technical details, and attaching necessary documents. This app, like the one for barriers, can in the future integrate with more advanced systems to further automate the infrastructure management process.
Differences and purposes of the two applications
While road barriers are numerous and often subject to deterioration, tunnels are more stable structures and already registered in the ANAS databases. Therefore, the barrier app provides real-time mapping of the infrastructure state, which is essential for preventing accidents and ensuring road safety. Instead, the tunnel app standardizes and centralizes existing information, improving data management and consultation.
The Development Team
The development of the two applications was carried out by a highly specialized team from the Enterprise Digital Evolution BU. Led by Giuseppe Calzetta, the project manager, the team includes front-end and back-end programmers, functional experts, and solution architects. The project, which started in December and concluded in April, required significant effort, especially to adapt the apps to ANAS's specific needs.
Conclusions and future prospects
The apps have been positively received by ANAS, which has already requested further developments to enhance the use of these tools. For the barriers, the implementation of maintenance management through the SAP PM module is planned, while for the tunnels, the possibility of automating data entry into the database is being explored. These applications represent an important step towards more efficient and safer management of Italian road infrastructures, demonstrating how technology can be a valuable ally in road maintenance.
