Mobile mapping solution enhances road network management

Field and Mosaic have jointly developed an advanced mobile mapping solution for road network management. Thanks to this successful collaboration, road asset managers and owners can now explore and interrogate data in significantly more detail than before.

Knowing which road surfaces and assets need repairing is critical to maintaining a safe and efficient road network. This is especially relevant in the Nordics, where infrastructure is exposed to extreme weather conditions for long periods. As populations grow and more road infrastructure is developed, manual road inspections are no longer practical. That’s where an advanced mobile mapping solution comes in, enabling geospatial data of the surrounding environment to be captured using mobile devices or vehicles equipped with advanced sensors, cameras and other technology. The resulting data can be used to create detailed and accurate 3D maps of roads, buildings, bridges and vegetation, to name but a few.

In conjunction with Mosaic, Field has developed an advanced mobile mapping solution comprising FieldRoad, the Mosaic X camera and Mapspace. FieldRoad is a cloud-based service offering ultra-high-resolution and geographically accurate street-level imagery. The solution combines the Mosaic X camera with in-house developed calibration and processing to create highly detailed and accurate 360-degree panoramic images. These processed images are uploaded to Field’s geospatial viewer, Mapspace, where customers can explore, interrogate and export the images to gain precise insights into their road assets.

Rigorous road network trials in Norway

During the development of the most recent iteration of the Mosaic X camera, Field participated in the prototype testing stage. In fact, the company was the first to receive the camera prototype for extensive real-world testing before it was ready for full-scale production. Field’s team of mobile mapping experts put the camera through rigorous trials across Norway’s road networks during an entire season of data capture, with their feedback allowing Mosaic to fine-tune the product.

The outcome is a durable camera that boasts user-friendly operation, seamless integration into Field’s mobile mapping system and processing routines, and the highest-quality imagery. The increased image quality means that it is possible to see more details along roads and within the cities, and it is easier to pinpoint and locate areas of interest, such as light poles, bolts on infrastructure and rust on signs.

Technical evolution of the image accuracy

The successful collaboration between Field and Mosaic means that road asset managers and owners can now explore and interrogate data in significantly more detail, reducing the need for fieldwork. “We’ve got the formula right. Supported by great camera hardware, our highly detailed and accurate road documentation and condition analysis will help road administrators understand their infrastructure assets and prioritize resources for more sustainable and safe road maintenance,” explains Kim Willem van Woensel Kooy, product manager at Field. “Only a few years ago, we were far from achieving this level of detail and accuracy. It’s exciting to see the technical evolution, and we’re receiving great feedback from our customers,” he adds.

According to recent analysis of the accuracy of Field’s road asset inspection solution, the company’s continued efforts to integrate and calibrate the Mosaic X with mobile mapping laser scanners has paid off. By deploying calibrated images and point clouds to Mapspace, the Field processing team compared measurements done in the viewer to real-world measurements provided by Field land surveyors. The results showed an average absolute accuracy of 5cm horizontally and 7cm vertically. With this accuracy, Field’s Mapspace can significantly reduce the need for fieldwork.

The line of Mosaic mobile mapping cameras was designed to redefine image quality standards in the mobile mapping industry, according to Lynn Puzzo, director of sales & marketing at Mosaic. The firm’s cameras can also easily integrate with larger mobile mapping systems and deliver non-vendor-locked data, which means that users such as Field can craft a system and workflow that best suits their needs. “It has been a pleasure working with Field. Their surveying know-how and large-scale projects have allowed us to test the limits of our cameras’ technology and durability beyond our own capabilities,” comments Puzzo. “Their confidence in us from the early stages of development has enabled us to grow and deliver new, customer-focused hardware that meets their needs and expectations,” she concludes.