In 2009, a group of researchers from Northeastern University received a grant of $18 million from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop a new pavement inspection method (Voters Project).
$18 Million might sound like a lot for research work in the area of pavement inspection but *aging road infrastructure is a problem across the world with millions being spent on the upkeep and maintenance of roadways each year. In USA alone, more than 2 million kilometers are in poor or mediocre conditions, costing the taxpayers over $67 Billion in repairs and operating costs (American Society of Civil Engineering’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure). The outdated methodology of making visual surface observations wasn’t helping matters either. Clearly there was a need for a better system.
The StreetScan TeamStreetScan*
5 years later, the group from Northeastern University*concluded its research work; coming with a prototype mobile sensor system capable of detecting road defects and a GIS application that could be used as a budget planning/maintenance tool for decision-makers to implement their infrastructure plans with a data-driven approach.*
Realising the commercial potential and impact their research has, the researchers in the group decided to spin off and created the startup – StreetScan.
In fact, over*the course of their research, the team published over 115 articles (publication list – last updated 2014). It’s not everyday that you see research work having an immediate impact on the society.
StreetScan’s end-to-end road inspection and management service comprises of two main components – the ScanVan, a van mounted with their data collection system and PaveMon, the GIS based planning tool for decision-makers and urban planners.*
<span style="color: #000000;"><em>Side note: If you have a company let by researchers product names will end up being acronyms
$18 Million might sound like a lot for research work in the area of pavement inspection but *aging road infrastructure is a problem across the world with millions being spent on the upkeep and maintenance of roadways each year. In USA alone, more than 2 million kilometers are in poor or mediocre conditions, costing the taxpayers over $67 Billion in repairs and operating costs (American Society of Civil Engineering’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure). The outdated methodology of making visual surface observations wasn’t helping matters either. Clearly there was a need for a better system.
5 years later, the group from Northeastern University*concluded its research work; coming with a prototype mobile sensor system capable of detecting road defects and a GIS application that could be used as a budget planning/maintenance tool for decision-makers to implement their infrastructure plans with a data-driven approach.*
Realising the commercial potential and impact their research has, the researchers in the group decided to spin off and created the startup – StreetScan.
In fact, over*the course of their research, the team published over 115 articles (publication list – last updated 2014). It’s not everyday that you see research work having an immediate impact on the society.
StreetScan’s end-to-end road inspection and management service comprises of two main components – the ScanVan, a van mounted with their data collection system and PaveMon, the GIS based planning tool for decision-makers and urban planners.*
<span style="color: #000000;"><em>Side note: If you have a company let by researchers product names will end up being acronyms