New sensors provide data for proactive road maintenance

Which of Dresden’s roads need to be repaired first? To be able to answer this question more accurately in future, the ‘Strategic Maintenance Management’ project is being further expanded as part of the pilot project Smart City Dresden . At several locations across Dresden’s main transport network, new sensors are continuously recording data on the wear and tear on the road surfaces. Together with a city-wide road condition survey, this is creating a database that will enable better forecasting of renovation needs in future.

Another Smart-City-monitoring point is currently being set up on Bergstraße. Axle load, temperature and contact sensors are being installed in the road surface. These measure the weight of vehicles as well as temperatures on and within the road surface. In addition, on-site weather data such as precipitation, wind speed and air temperature are being recorded. This enables an analysis of how traffic and weather conditions influence the ageing of roads.

The monitoring station on Bergstraße is the fourth ‘ Smart ’ – ‘City ’ – traffic monitoring station to come into operation within the city limits. Further monitoring stations are located on Tharandter Straße, Dohnaer Straße and Washingtonstraße. Another site on Stauffenbergallee will follow in August, and a sixth monitoring station is already in the planning stage. The sites are distributed in such a way as to provide representative data on traffic volumes across Dresden’s road network.

Road conditions are being digitally recorded across the city

In addition to the fixed monitoring stations, a specialised vehicle has been recording the condition of the entire Dresden road network since the end of June and will continue to do so until September 2026. Using high-precision measurement and camera technology, damage such as cracks, ruts, potholes and uneven surfaces is digitally documented.

The combination of continuously recorded traffic load data and the results of the road condition survey will form the basis for software-supported forecasts in future. This will enable better assessment of when roads should be repaired and which measures offer the greatest benefit for the long-term maintenance of the infrastructure.

Data provides the basis for sustainable road maintenance

The aim of the project is to plan investments in road infrastructure in a more targeted manner and to utilise existing funds as efficiently as possible. Through forward-looking rehabilitation planning, construction works can be better coordinated and the number and duration of roadworks reduced in the long term. At the same time, continuous data collection helps to steadily improve forecasts regarding the service life of roads.