1
The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
to Remotely Collect Data
for Road Infrastructure.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Deadline: March 11, 2017
2
1 PURPOSE AND STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE
1.1 Introduction
The World Road Association (PIARC) has established a Special Projects fund to enable it to
respond outside the usual four-year Technical Committee cycle to emerging issues and
priorities identified by its members. This paper is a Call for Proposals for the “The use of
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to Remotely Collect Data for Road Infrastructure.” An UAS
is comprised of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or sometimes called drones, ground based
controller, and a communications / data terminal. Figure 1 is a visual representation of a UAS.
1.2 Purpose
The purpose of this proposed project is to assist transport decision-makers in understanding the
use of UAS and associated success.
We have seen an increase in the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) with various payloads
to remotely collect data. Some of the more common payloads we are seeing used in several
countries are high definition (HD) video cameras, LiDAR, hyperspectral data, radar, and others.
UAVs are particularly well suited to gather data in environments where access is hazardous or
difficult, to rapidly cover large open areas, and generally to access other locales where robotic
data collection is determined to be more efficient or safer.
Over that past couple of years, we have seen a rapid growth in the highway industry’s use of this
technology, both in construction and maintenance. In addition, several countries are using UAS
for traffic management and quick response to emergency situations (traffic accident, natural
disaster, etc.). What began as HD still imagery progressed to video, quickly followed by other
types of imagery/data as sensor technology miniaturized and became less costly. It appears that
there may be no limit to the use of UAS in planning, asset management, design, construction,
operations, and maintenance of highways. In particular, we would like an international
comprehensive synopsis of where the technology is being used in the highway industry with a
brief description of its success and areas for improvement.
Figure 1: Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)
3
2 METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH
2.1 General
There are numerus opportunities for the use of UAS in the highway industry. This study will help us
understand the international usage and associated success. In addition, this study will look at how the
technology supports the national and international security of our highways. This will allow the PIARC
members the opportunity to leverage the experience of others to expedite the efficient, economical, and
safe international deployment and mainstreaming of the technology. There is the added benefit that since
this technology is relatively new, there are still the opportunities to foster common approaches in data
integration rather than seeing a proliferation of divergent approaches, as we do work and live in an
international economy.
2.2 Approach
Proposals in response to this Call should include a description of the approach to be taken to
collect and compile the information being requested. The proposal should answer the following
questions about the tenderer’s approach:
1. How will the study collect international information regarding the users and
respective use of UAS with roads? (i.e. surveys, experts, literature review,
etc.)
2. How will the study collect UAS related example standards, example data
management standards, best practices, inspection guides, regulation etc.?
3. How will the study identify UAS successes or areas for improvement?
4. What will be the study milestones?
2.3 Key areas
Please describe the key areas for consideration in the framework:
1. What will be the study’s means of collecting information from different areas of road
administration (i.e. planning, asset management, design, construction, operations, and
maintenance) from international road sector including successful and unsuccessful case
studies?
2. Low and middle income countries (LMIC) represent an important share of PIARC
membership and it is crucial that their needs are addressed within PIARC activities. How
case studies from LMIC will be gathered? How LMIC needs and low cost UAS
applications will be collected?
3. How will the study collect differing usages of UAS (i.e. real time monitoring, data
gathering, performing function, etc.)?
4. What will be the studies criteria used to identify if the use of UAS was a success or area
for improvement?
4
3 FINAL DELIVERABLES
The final deliverables will comprise:
1. A report presenting the international use of UAS with respective success and areas for
improvement. The report shall include example specifications, data management
practices, case studies, inspection guides, emergency response plans, and other guides
and best practices associated with using UAS.
2. An executive report that will describe the rationale behind the framework, explain
the methodology for your work, summarize response, and explain how this report
can be used by countries, including LMIC.
3. A chapter inside the report with possible specific recommendation for LMIC.
4. An accompanying illustrated presentation for distribution and use in webinars
and/or international conferences such as World Road Association’s Council meeting
(October 23-26, 2017) in Bonn, Germany with representatives for the 121 PIARC
member countries, and the TRB 2018.
The final products will be submitted in electronic form in English. The World Road
Association will ensure translation into French and Spanish. In addition, they will make it
available for free in the World Road Association’s Virtual Library to ensure a large world
outreach for the report.
5
4 KEY DATES
The proposal should also include a proposed draft of a work schedule. The schedule should identify
dates or time frames for accomplishing major milestones in the project. The work schedule will
include bi-monthly status reports and dates or time frame for an interim product or products that
allows adequate time for review and feedback prior to the final deliverable. The schedule should
also include a proposed schedule for periodic conference calls to report on progress. The schedule
must be completed and all final products delivered within six months of the commencement of the
project, and in any case final deliverables must be submitted prior to September 23, 2017.
6
5 PROPOSED BUDGET
Please provide a general budget for the project. The funding requested from PIARC should not exceed 25,000 Euros, though the total budget may be higher (using complementary funding or contributed services or resources). The budget should include a general itemization of the costs of the major work elements of the project.
7
6 PROPOSED EXPERTS AND INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
The proposal should also include a description of the relevant expertise that qualifies the tenderer to
undertake the project. Specifically:
1. Please describe any past or current work projects that relate to the subject of this proposal.
2. Please also identify the person or persons who will be working on this project, describing their
roles and estimated contribution to the project, and providing information on their
backgrounds, experience and expertise.
3. Please provide information about any other international network, other than the World Road
Association, from which tender could be leveraged from.
8
7 PROJECT OVERSIGHT
The project will be overseen by a project evaluation and steering committee called “Project
Oversight Team (POT) to select the preferred supplier and assist in the development of the project.
These experts will be drawn from PIARC membership, and will include representatives from
Technical Committee D1 Asset Management and B.1 Road Network Operations/Intelligent
Transportation systems and the PIARC Executive Committee.
The POT will assess tenders and select the preferred supplier based on its assessment of:
how well tenders address the project objectives and deliverables;
the value for money offered by the tenderer, including additional contributions leveraged by the project; and
the capacity of the tenderer to deliver the specified outputs.
The POT will oversee progress of the Project, including participating in periodic calls, bi-monthly
status reports, reviewing interim and final products. The POT will also provide any relevant
information from the PIARC work to the selected tenderer (e.g., information obtained from
surveys) for use in the project. In addition to review and oversight by the POT, input may also be
sought from the other members of Technical Committee D.1 Asset Management and B.1 Road
Network Operations/Intelligent Transportation systems and the PIARC Executive Committee, and from
members of any other relevant PIARC Technical Committees.
9
8 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Proposals should include the elements identified in this Call for Proposals. Specifically, they should
include:
1. An outline of the Approach to be used for the project, including responses to the questions
in Section 2.2;
2. An identification of the key issues to be considered, including the information requested in
Section 2.3;
3. A work schedule, as described in Section 4.
4. A budget, as described in Section 5.
5. A list of proposed experts and possible international networks, as described in Section 6.
Proposals should be submitted electronically in English to the World Road Association General
Secretariat at:
no later than:
March 11, 2017
For any questions, please send E-mail to [email protected]
Unpredicted Infrastructure failures (UIF)
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Deadline: March 11, 2017
1 PURPOSE AND STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE
1.1 Introduction
The World Road Association (PIARC) has established a Special Projects fund to enable it to
respond outside the usual four-year Technical Committee cycle to emerging issues and
priorities identified by its members. This paper is a Call for Proposals for the “Unpredicted
Infrastructure Failures (UIF).” Failure of infrastructures (bridges, tunnels or key road sections)
in service is an exceptional event that several road administrators have experienced in the past
fifteen years. The responsible authorities have responded to these failures, often associated
with aging infrastructure, by adopting different measures to reduce risks and increase
robustness.
1.2 Purpose
The purpose of this proposed project is to produce a report that shares the knowledge acquired by
the managers of these assets by presenting recommendations based on best practices and the
proposed measures.
Failures occur unpredictably and unexpectedly, without warning signs of weakness (failures
caused by natural disasters are not included). The occurrence of these events is very low, but the
effects on the mobility and even the safety of road users are often major. It is therefore important
to document failure cases more systematically in order to improve preparation of the
administration’s response and their ability to anticipate, because learning through individual
experience is not guaranteed.
2 METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH
2.1 General
The objective is to improve the response of roads authorities and network managers during the failure of
an infrastructure in service (communication handling requirements) and the measures proposed
following these events regarding asset management, failure risk assessment and vulnerability reduction
(increase of robustness of the transportation systems in place).
2.2 Approach
This project will be monitored and supervised by a Project Oversight Team (POT). At the
beginning of the work, POT members will propose a series of events of loss of infrastructure
occurring all over the world. Proposals in response to this Call should include a description of the
approach to compile the information being transfer. The proposal should answer the following
questions about the tenderer’s approach:
1. How will the study collect international information regarding the response of
roads authorities and network managers during the failure of an infrastructure?
(i.e. surveys, experts, literature review, etc.)
2. How will the study identify UIF management successes, unsuccessful
responses or areas for improvement?
3. What will be the study milestones?
2.3 Key areas
Please describe the key areas for consideration in the framework:
1. What will be the study’s means of collecting information from different areas of road
administration (i.e. planning, asset management, design, construction, operations, and
maintenance) from international road sector?
2. How will the study collect differing approach of UIF management?
3. What will be the studies criteria used to identify if the UIF management was a success,
unsuccess, or area for improvement?
3 FINAL DELIVERABLES
The final deliverables will comprise:
1. A report presenting recommendations based on the respective success and areas for
improvement of UIF management including case studies integrating evaluation of the
effectiveness and users feedback on the measures taken. The report shall include:
a. Description of the infrastructure.
b. Description of the environment and the stresses influencing behaviour of the
infrastructure (seismic, wind, tides, ice, brine, extreme weather events, flash
floods, etc.), although this studies is not specifically addressed to natural
disasters.
c. Previous inspection and predictability of the failure.
d. Effect of the failure on mobility (society): Users, Social impacts, Trade and
business groups.
e. Response of the network manager (disaster management, timely
communication with users and use of social media).
f. The government’s reaction. Is it possible to create an opportunity out of an
unpredicted failure?
g. Report on public and political reaction and how broadcast and social media
featured in the course of the event.
h. Evaluation of the effectiveness and user feedback on the reactions and
measures.
i. Changes made to inspection processes.
j. Changes made to asset management practices.
k. Measures deployed to increase robustness.
l. Measures established after the experience to improve communication
towards users and general public for UIF.
2. An executive report that will describe the rationale behind the framework, explain
the methodology for your work, summarize response, and explain how this report can
be used by countries.
3. The experiences and needs of low and middle-income countries (LMICs) should be
addressed in the report, with possible specific recommendations.
4. An accompanying illustrated presentation for distribution and use in webinars and/or
international conferences such as World Road Association’s Council meeting
(October 23-26, 2017) in Bonn, Germany with representatives for the 121 PIARC
member countries.
The final products will be submitted in electronic form in English. The World Road
Association will ensure its translation into French and Spanish and will make it available for
free in its Virtual Library to ensure a large world outreach for the report.
4 KEY DATES
The proposal should also include a proposed draft of a work schedule. The schedule should identify
dates or time frames for accomplishing major milestones in the project. The work schedule will
include bi-monthly status reports and dates or time frame for an interim product or products that
allows adequate time for review and feedback prior to the final deliverable. The schedule should
also include a proposed schedule for periodic conference calls to report on progress. The schedule
must be completed and all final products delivered within six months of the commencement of the
project, and in any case final deliverables must be submitted prior to September 23, 2017.
5 PROPOSED BUDGET
Please provide a general budget for the project. The funding requested from PIARC should not exceed 25,000 Euros, though the total budget may be higher (using complementary funding or contributed services or resources). The budget should include a general itemization of the costs of the major work elements of the project.
6 PROPOSED EXPERTS AND INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
The proposal should also include a description of the relevant expertise that qualifies the tenderer to
undertake the project. Specifically:
1. Please describe any past or current work projects that relate to the subject of this proposal.
2. Please also identify the person or persons who will be working on this project, describing their
roles and estimated contribution to the project, and providing information on their
backgrounds, experience and expertise.
3. Please provide information about any other international network, other than the World Road
Association, from which tender could be leveraged from.
7 PROJECT OVERSIGHT
The project will be overseen by a project evaluation and steering committee called “Project
Oversight Team (POT) to select the preferred supplier and assist in the development of the project.
These experts will be drawn from PIARC membership, and will include representatives from
Technical Committee D.3 Bridges and E.3 Disaster management and the PIARC Executive
Committee.
The POT will assess tenders and select the preferred supplier on the basis of its assessment of:
how well tenders address the project objectives and deliverables;
the value for money offered by the tenderer, including additional contributions leveraged by the project; and
the capacity of the tenderer to deliver the specified outputs.
The POT will oversee progress of the Project, including participating in periodic calls, bi-monthly
status reports, reviewing interim and final products. The POT will also provide any relevant
information from the PIARC work to the selected tenderer (e.g., information obtained from
surveys) for use in the project. In addition to review and oversight by the POT, input may also be
sought from the other members of Technical Committee D.3 Bridges and E.3 Disaster management
and the PIARC Executive Committee, and from members of any other relevant PIARC Technical
Committees.
8 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Proposals should include the elements identified in this Call for Proposals. Specifically, they should include:
1. An outline of the Approach to be used for the project, including responses to the questions in Section
2.2;
2. An identification of the key issues to be considered, including the information requested in Section
2.3;
3. A work schedule, as described in Section 4.
4. A budget, as described in Section 5.
5. A list of proposed experts and possible international networks, as described in Section 6.
Proposals should be submitted electronically in English to the World Road Association General Secretariat
at:
no later than:
March 11, 2017
For any questions, please send E-mail to [email protected]