Waterman Group

The UK’s road and active travel space networks are a vital framework connecting our communities, businesses and green spaces, supporting our economy and underpinning the prosperity of the nation. Our transport and highways engineering specialists are carrying out surface monitoring and conditions evaluations across Britain to ensure these networks continue to operate effectively. To make this process safer, greener and more efficient, we’ve been supporting the development of a ground-breaking digital condition monitoring system called DRIMS (Dynamic Response Intelligent Monitoring System). Harnessing AI and FCD (Floating Car Data), this smartphone-based road-roughness measurement device gives International Roughness Index (IRI) ratings for a given stretch of road. Compact, smartphone-compatible and easy to install into any vehicle, the core technology was developed by the University of Tokyo, with further development carried out by JIP Techno Science Corporation and Waterman’s holding company CTI Engineering. The system is widely used for road maintenance in Japan, and CTI Engineering has been leading the introduction to projects overseas, particularly in China, Uzbekistan and Africa, before bringing DRIMS to the UK in 2020. Waterman’s civil engineering specialists were involved throughout this process, and we’re now utilising DRIMS to gather AI-rich data across the UK. We’re also using the FCD system to measure road roughness, allowing us to produce IRI (International Roughness Index) ratings and identify the location, grading and mapping of road conditions and defects.