Mercedes-Benz and Boston Join Forces for Road Infrastructure Analytics
Boston is known for its beautiful roads and natural scenery. However, uneven roads can be a problem that affects both drivers and pedestrians. Mercedes-Benz USA’s Urban Mobility Solutions has announced a pilot partnership with Boston’s Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics and Citywide Analytics Team to identify the causes of uneven roads using vehicle data analytics. By processing information from participating vehicles, Mercedes-Benz will help Boston authorities to identify hotspots of uneven roads, which then can be fixed and made safer for all. In this article, we will explore the specifics of this partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Boston, and how this innovative collaboration will make Boston’s roads smoother and safer.
Mercedes-Benz is a pioneer in safety and assistance systems, having developed a multitude of sensors and technologies that advance road safety. For this partnership with Boston, the company is using an advanced algorithm to process vehicle data and use it for infrastructure analytics. Participating Mercedes-Benz vehicles will collect information on where they experience bumps in the road. The data will be anonymized, aggregated, and analyzed to identify patterns and hot spots of uneven roads. This information will then be shared with Boston’s Analytics Team for evaluation.
One of the benefits of this partnership is the fact that the vehicles used for data collection are already equipped with sensors and technologies designed to improve road safety. These sensors can also provide insights into the vehicle’s surroundings, including infrastructure. While the company has ongoing projects in several European countries, this partnership with Boston in the United States is the first in North America. Vehicles equipped with the necessary sensors will not only register bumps along the roadway, but also their intensity and development over time, providing valuable data to help improve the quality of Boston’s roads.
The City of Boston’s Analytics Team will evaluate the effectiveness of Mercedes-Benz’s technology by comparing surface damage analytics to data the City has previously gathered from its constituent service system, known as Boston 311, as well as through on-street inspections. This joint effort will help smooth roads and make them safer for all who use them. Additionally, this innovative approach will help Boston authorities to identify and target specific areas that require immediate attention, saving both time and money in the long run.
The potential for this partnership is significant. By identifying patterns and hot spots of uneven roads, Mercedes-Benz and Boston’s Analytics Team can work together to develop targeted maintenance programs that will help keep these roads smooth and safe. This collaboration is an opportunity to develop and refine cutting-edge technologies and new methods of data analysis and use. Ultimately, it will help to pave the way for safer, more efficient and smarter mobility solutions for Boston and beyond.
In summary, the pilot partnership will help smooth Boston’s roads and make them safer than ever before. By processing this data, Boston authorities can identify problem areas, target specific issues, and create targeted maintenance programs that will help keep these roads safe. This innovative collaboration is an excellent example of how collaboration between private industry and public service entities can work together to develop cutting-edge technologies to improve the lives of citizens. We hope to see this pilot program expand and flourish in the future, providing benefits to other cities across North America and beyond.