Innoviz Technologies has signed an agreement with Drive Group to deploy its Bridge Collision Detection solution on highways, tunnels, and bridges across Israel.
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Development of the Bridge Collision Detection solution evolved from substantially testing other on-and off-highway solutions that Innoviz is commercializing, in conjunction with customers looking for LiDAR-based, technology-driven solutions to distinctive problems.
The detection solution uses data gathered from Innoviz LiDAR sensors from both sides of a highway, several kilometers ahead of the entrance to a bridge or tunnel. This system establishes a safe operating zone and identifies vehicles with heights or widths exceeding predefined ranges determined by the road operator. System alerts can trigger a camera to identify and share license plate information with local authorities, who can intervene and stop the vehicle to prevent potential collisions. As intelligent transportation systems advance, these types of solutions can be used to send wireless communications directly to a hazardous vehicle for increasingly seamless intervention.
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The system shows potential in significantly reducing false alarms from camera-based software systems, according to the company, by using a LiDAR-based system to provide a truer, more accurate 3D visualization of a vehicle’s dimensions.
“There is no reason to accept the present situation of bridge and tunnel accidents,” said Omer Keilaf, CEO and co-founder, in a statement. “It is estimated that 2 to 3 percent of the world’s bridges are damaged every year, and we believe the technologies being developed at Innoviz can be a game changer for roadways across the world.
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“We’re excited to partner with Drive Group, who quickly embraced our all-new application for LiDAR-based technology to solve a decades-long problem and serve a real need that can benefit highways around the world,” Keilaf said.
Drive Group, a leading operator of highways and toll roads throughout Israel, collaborated with Innoviz in the early phases of commercializing the Bridge Collision Detection system. After a successful first trial, an agreement was signed that created a pathway for Drive Group to become a distributor of the technology for a broader deployment to highway and other local authority customers.
“When it comes to road safety, we at Drive Group are committed to finding the most effective, safe, and advanced technological solutions out there,” said Itamar Ben Meir, CEO of Drive Group, in a statement. “We are very impressed by the technology developed at Innoviz and its potential to help reduce road accidents, and we are excited that we found a potentially world-leading solution right here in Israel. Our goal is to distribute this solution not just in Israel, but globally.”
On average, 15,000 bridge and tunnel collisions occur in the United States annually, according to Innoviz. The average cost for repair is estimated at around $18,000 per accident, totaling some $270 million annually in damages caused by this type of accident.
