Latest news with #InternationalRoadFederation
Mint
10-07-2025
- General
- Mint
Gujrat bridge collapse: IRF calls for regular monitoring, maintenance of Infrastructures
New Delhi, Jul 10 (PTI) The International Road Federation (IRF) on Thursday expressed concern over the collapse of a section of the Gambhira bridge in Gujarat, resulting in the loss of lives. The Geneva-based global road safety body stressed the need for regular monitoring and maintenance of bridges and other vital infrastructure in the country. As many as 13 people died during the bridge collapse at Gambhira in Gujarat on Wednesday. IRF President Emeritus K K Kapila said the natural environment is harsh and corrosive to bridges, regardless of the type of material, quality of construction, or means of erection. "Regular use of these structures further accelerates their deterioration. Concerned authorities, including civil and structural engineers, must conduct regular assessments of bridge elements to establish conditions and then address critical defects to preserve the safety and integrity of bridges," Kapila said He said managing vital assets for maximising service life and serviceability demands innovative and modern technologies. IRF India chapter president Akhilesh Srivastava said innovations in terms of instrumentation, data analysis, and artificial intelligence offer great potential for the monitoring and maintenance of infrastructures, as a complement to traditional visual inspection methods. Three people were killed and five others rescued after several vehicles fell into a river when the portion of a four-decade-old bridge collapsed in Gujarat's Vadodara district on Wednesday morning. Five to six vehicles fell into the Mahisagar river after a slab of the Gambhira bridge, located on the river which connects central Gujarat and Saurashtra regions of the state, collapsed, Gujarat's Health Minister Rushikesh Patel had said.
Muscat Daily
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Muscat Daily
ROP wins International Road Federation award
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Athens, Greece – The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has earned international recognition by securing first place in the prestigious International Road Federation (IRF) Awards under the Road Safety category. The accolade was awarded during a ceremony held in Athens, Greece, and acknowledges the ROP's innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) and smart technologies to enhance traffic safety across the sultanate. Brigadier Eng Ali Suleim al Falahi, Director General of Traffic, accepted the award on behalf of ROP, marking a significant milestone in Oman's journey toward intelligent transportation systems. The winning initiative highlights ROP's collaboration with Huawei Oman to develop and implement advanced traffic management solutions. These include AI-powered monitoring systems, real-time accident data analysis, and scientific identification of high-risk road zones. The integration of smart systems has contributed to a measurable decline in road accidents and improved emergency response efficiency. The IRF Awards, presented annually by one of the world's leading transport infrastructure bodies, honour outstanding contributions that promote road safety and infrastructure development globally. The ROP's success places Oman among countries recognised for leveraging technology to address critical public safety challenges.
Observer
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
ROP wins International Road Federation Award
The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has won first place in the International Road Federation (IRF) Awards under the Road Safety category, recognising its advanced efforts in enhancing traffic safety through smart technologies and data analysis. The award specifically acknowledges ROP's use of artificial intelligence in traffic management, implemented in collaboration with Huawei Oman. Brigadier Eng Ali bin Suleim al Falahi, Director-General of Traffic, accepted the award on behalf of ROP during the ceremony held in Athens. This achievement reflects ROP's pioneering initiatives in developing intelligent traffic monitoring systems, accident data analysis and AI-powered solutions to identify and scientifically address high-risk road areas. These efforts have contributed to reducing accident rates and improving response efficiency, in line with the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to achieving Oman Vision 2040 objectives. The IRF Awards – presented annually by the world's leading transportation infrastructure organisation – recognise projects and initiatives that demonstrate tangible impact in developing and improving global road networks and safety standards. — ONA
Hans India
15-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Use sensors, AI to monitor vital infra in India
Leading structural engineering experts have called for the urgent adoption of sensors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to monitor and maintain critical infrastructure across India, including road and railway bridges, tunnels, and dams. They stressed that traditional methods like visual inspections are no longer enough to ensure the safety and longevity of these key assets. Speaking at a seminar on 'Capacity Augmentation & Service Life Enhancement of Bridges,' organised by the India chapter of the International Road Federation (IRF), Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director of CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, Chennai, stressed that India must shift to smarter solutions for infrastructure monitoring. She highlighted how modern technologies such as advanced instrumentation, AI, and data analysis can help identify internal damages that are often missed during manual inspections. "Bridges are the lifelines of our transport networks. Maintaining them in good condition is crucial for both safety and accessibility," she said. "Relying only on visual inspections is risky, as they often fail to detect hidden damages and can be highly subjective and time-consuming," Anandavalli explained. She added that environmental factors, water exposure, air pollution, and increasing traffic loads lead to faster deterioration of infrastructure, making timely detection and repair even more important. Using AI-based systems and embedded sensors -- an approach known as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) -- can allow engineers to detect issues early, better understand damage patterns, and plan maintenance more effectively. However, Anandavalli also pointed out a major challenge. "At present, India imports critical sensors at a very high cost. It is time we invest in developing our own sensor technology to reduce dependence on imports and make large-scale infrastructure monitoring more affordable," she said. Echoing her views, Dr Gopal Rai, CEO of Dhirendra Group of Companies, said that while SHM systems offer many benefits over traditional inspections, their high cost remains a key hurdle. 'These technologies are essential for ensuring the safety and extending the lifespan of our bridges and tunnels, but they must become more accessible and affordable for widespread use,' he noted.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Safety first: Govt mulls mandatory ABS for all two-wheelers above 50cc
Representative image NEW DELHI: Government is considering making anti-lock braking systems (ABS) mandatory for all two-wheelers with engine capacity above 50cc. At present, ABS is only required in motorcycles over 125cc. This safety feature helps prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking, enhancing control and reducing stopping distances, especially on slippery roads. Experts from India and abroad have emphasised the need for this provision, in addition to the mandatory wearing of helmets for all two-wheeler occupants — which is currently enforced, to reduce deaths and serious injuries. Two-wheeler riders are among the most vulnerable road users after pedestrians and cyclists, as they have little to no protection. 'Since ABS has been a successful intervention to reduce the risk of road crashes and fatalities involving two-wheelers and fatalities, this should be a feature in all motorised two-wheelers above 50cc,' said David Ward of Global New Car Assessment Programme at a conference on 'Vehicle and Fleet Safety' at the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE). Safe technological systems, including ABS for all two-wheelers, cannot be ignored, he added. Road safety expert Rohit Baluja highlighted the need to include two-wheelers in transport planning since they constitute 74% of all vehicles in India and 44% people killed on roads are two-wheeler occupants. 'Today, we only talk about putting helmets on two-wheeler riders. Is the helmet the only answer? Has anyone spoken about the transportation planning to reduce the number of these two-wheelers in the country? Two-wheelers are sandwiched between other vehicles due to poor traffic and transport planning... Powered two-wheelers destroy road discipline of all users and there is a need to address their requirement while planning and building roads,' Baluja said. He added that there is a need to have dedicated driving lanes for two-wheelers. President emeritus of International Road Federation, K K Kapila, said two-wheelers are the lifeline of major cities, despite improvement in public transport, and the only solution is to find ways and means to make them safe with use of technology.
