To reduce risks for road users, a group of students from the University of Technical Education and the University of Economics - the University of Da Nang have created device that can warn about damaged road surfaces and urban flooding.

The team's device for warning of damaged roads and urban flooding won the Consolation Prize at the 2024 Euréka Student Scientific Research Competition. Photo: H.L

To achieve their goal, the group has developed a compact, low-cost, and easy-to-deploy acceleration sensor and water level sensor that are resilient to weather conditions.

Pham Van Phuc, a student from the University of Technical Education and a member of the research team, explained that the group utilised an algorithm to determine road surface roughness using data collected from two acceleration sensors.

Accordingly, two acceleration sensors are located along the rear shock absorbers of the vehicle. One water sensor is installed under the vehicle's chassis and one water level sensor is installed on the side of the vehicle to get the data. When the vehicle is on the road, the data collector will read the acceleration sensor, water level sensor, and water detection sensor.

In addition to the warning function, the system is also capable of analyzing real-time data and storing information to support traffic management units in assessing infrastructure quality. This information can assist authorities in creating a scientific plan for road maintenance, prioritizing the repair of dangerous spots first, rather than depending solely on public feedback.

After nearly two months of testing on various routes in Da Nang, the system achieved 95% accuracy in detecting potholes, poor road surfaces, and flooded areas. The screen displays the condition of the road surface using a color-coded system, in which green indicates a good road surface, while orange and red signify potholes, ranging from light to severe. Additionally, the system measures flooding levels and provides warnings indicating the depth of water in centimeters.

The research team also concentrated on the flexibility of the device by developing a mobile application that allows users to customize alerts according to their specific needs. For example, users can choose to receive notifications only when the flood level exceeds 20 cm or when the road surface has serious potholes.

Winning the consolation prize in the field of technology at the 2024 Euréka Student Scientific Research Competition, the student group's device has attracted the attention of many experts in the field of transportation and technology.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Lam, former Head of the Institute of Electronics - Informatics and Automation under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, a member of the competition's jury, highly appreciated the group's idea.

He believes that once completed, this product set will help drivers travel safely while also providing valuable data for urban infrastructure management. Therefore, he stressed the need for the team to continue improving the product by upgrading data processing algorithms and optimising the sensor system to enhance accuracy. Moreover, the team should test the device's ability to connect to the intelligent traffic warning system to expand the scope of its practical applications.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Lam suggested the device have additional features such as warning of slippery oil spills or warning of accident risks based on road conditions. Applying artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze data from sensors will help the system optimize its ability to identify hazards on the road, thereby improving the accuracy of warnings, he noted.

The group is not only focused on improving the device's accuracy but is also developing a plan to reduce production costs to enhance competitiveness when launching the product in the market. After completing the final testing and fine-tuning stages, the group intends to participate in startup competitions to seek investment for the project. To facilitate this, they aim to collaborate with the bus company to gather data on road conditions and flooding in the city. This data will be uploaded to the monitoring interface, allowing for timely notifications that will help minimize risks for road users.

Reporting by HUYNH LE - Translating by M.DUNG