In recent years there has been significant progress in the development of Government and commercial software and hardware systems for various automation applications. Advanced sensor systems for inspection, automated databases and program management software, and robotic vehicles are some of the new automation technology which promises to benefit road construction, maintenance, and operations.
For example, robotics for military applications, including the development robotic excavators, dozers, and inspection vehicles with various kinds of sensors, can be modified for road construction applications. Robotic systems have also been developed for coal mining, hazardous waste cleanup, and building construction. In 1990, the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) initiated the Automated Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology Program; the Japanese have had active programs for nearly ten years.
Automation of road construction, maintenance, and operations can increase safety (highway workers suffer more than 5,000 injuries and nearly 800 deaths per year), productivity, and quality, while reducing costs and the adverse impact of work sites on traffic.