In an increasingly interconnected and technology-dependent world, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) has become a fundamental pillar for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of operations across various industries. At Globalvia, we strive to advance daily to continue offering our users the best service worldwide. To this end, we have incorporated AI into our assets through various projects and initiatives we have been developing for over five years. Many of these projects are now a reality thanks to the efforts we channel through Openvia Mobility, our technology platform. Would you like to learn more about them?
IA IN OUR HIGHWAYS
Artificial intelligence is already present in multiple applications on our roads, from detecting animals and objects on the road to optimizing license plate reading to reduce manual tasks, strengthening roadside personnel safety, and identifying events and incidents in real time for better management.
For example, on our Costa Rican highway, Ruta 27, we use OpenPlate, a traffic auditing tool that, through AI, can detect all types of license plates, even those with vertical characters, automatically classifying them without human intervention. This advancement streamlines the license plate reading process required to apply the corresponding toll rate based on the vehicle’s transit characteristics, reducing the margin of error. Also on Ruta 27, another road system on our Openvia platform is capable of improving the license plate reading process, even in cases where the characters are poorly visible or when the license plate is poorly positioned on the vehicle, surpassing the efficiency of traditional OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processes.
Meanwhile, at Ruta Portuaria in Colombia, an automatic truck identification solution has also been implemented using camera-based OCR technology. This system recognizes wheel height for correct classification and pricing at toll booths, enabling better control of heavy vehicle classification.
In addition, we apply AI to improve traffic management and the operation and maintenance of our roads by identifying traffic incidents in real time through data fusion and managing them effectively through Geomic, our O&M tool. This system can identify specific points on the road where there is a high risk of accidents due to several variables, such as excessive speed and adverse weather conditions.
This system is already in place on the Costa Arauco Highway in Chile and Ruta 27, among others, although our Portuguese highways, Beira Interior and Transmontana, use a similar system. Additionally, in collaboration with ASIMOB, our highways are working on creating a highway inventory, primarily including traffic signs, metal barriers, and pavement appearance. Cameras collect this information, and the images are then processed with AI-powered software. This will allow for video analytics inspections, comparing images collected over time.
In addition, on the Transmontana Highway, we are developing a digital twin project (PoC Digital Twin) for the Corgo Viaduct. This initiative is based on existing monitoring systems and real sensor data to build a digital replica of the asset and aims to improve real-time monitoring. In this digital environment, artificial intelligence plays a key role: it is used to interpret large volumes of structural data and to complement finite element models (FEM), allowing for more accurate projections of viaduct behavior under different conditions and anticipation of maintenance needs. In this way, AI becomes an essential tool for predictive, efficient, and data-driven structural management.
On our highway in Galicia, the Autopista Central Gallega, we have developed a closed lane with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology, which enables user identification and pricing based on origin and destination. This advancement has been made possible thanks to contractual changes and represents a significant improvement in both operational efficiency and user experience. Furthermore, on this same highway, we are moving forward with the implementation of advanced systems that, through AI-powered software, can detect animals, people, and suicide vehicles by installing OCR cameras at strategic points along the road. This system will prevent accidents and significantly improve road safety.
Specifically in this area, our Smartworker project at Concesiones de Madrid stands out. It is specifically designed to improve the safety of road maintenance and upkeep workers. Smartworker is a pioneering system based on AI and the Internet of Things that allows real-time identification of any intrusion into a closed lane where our operators are working. The system consists of a set of sensor-powered cones that detect movement or demolition, and an AI-powered camera that captures any intrusion into the safety area where work is being carried out. In the event of an intrusion, workers are alerted through warning devices they carry, which emit an audible and vibrating alert, so they can take appropriate safety measures. In parallel, a signal is sent to the highway control center to monitor the incident and support the team on the road.
An operator carrying a wireless device that will alert him in the event of a road intrusion, as part of the Smartworker initiative.
AI IN OUR RAILWAYS
In the railway sector, new technologies have proven to be very useful in improving both the user experience and safety conditions.
At Metro de Sevilla, our team relies on its virtual assistant, Telmo, a chatbot accessible via WhatsApp that uses artificial intelligence to assist users. Telmo is trained to quickly and easily answer frequently asked questions about schedules, frequencies, regulations, and travel recommendations. It also allows users to check their card balance, travel times, the arrival of the next train, or how to get to a station. If it can’t provide an answer, it forwards the query to Customer Service and learns from the interaction.
At TRAM, in Barcelona, in 2023, the team implemented an AI-based driver monitoring system, pioneering this advancement in the European Union. Using a camera, the system uses facial recognition to detect different situations that could affect the driver’s driving performance: microsleep, fatigue or discomfort, mobile phone use, distraction, food intake, or a covered camera. If these events occur, the system issues an alert to warn the driver. The alert is evaluated, and if it constitutes a safety incident, it is reported to the control center. From there, TRAM staff contact the driver to verify the situation and decide whether they should be relieved.
In other cases, we see how AI can be used to make decisions that impact the business. For example, in the case of Iryo, the team uses machine learning to calculate the most convenient prices at the user’s specific moment of purchase. To do this, the system can incorporate relevant information and variables such as the average prices set by competitors, forecasted demand at a specific time, and the existence or absence of holidays or relevant events that may impact the final price.
In addition to the obvious benefits of implementing AI in our infrastructure, this technology has also become a very useful tool for our corporate teams. Thus, by integrating Copilot into our daily work, AI is transforming how we work, allowing us to automate repetitive or recurring tasks and processes and free up time for other tasks that add greater value. Thus, Copilot has proven to be the perfect assistant for facilitating tasks such as summarizing emails or documents, organizing agendas, writing texts, and drafting presentations, among other functions.
Our IT department is currently conducting a proof of concept (POC) to evaluate the effectiveness of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in generating relevant information for the company. The goal is to overcome the difficulties associated with the “blank page syndrome.”
In addition, we are evaluating the feasibility of implementing specialized AI assistants by area or sector to resolve more specific issues.
These are just a few examples of how AI has very useful applications in the sector and how we can make new technologies an ally that adds value to the user experience, improving the security and efficiency of our systems and our employees’ daily lives.