Wednesday, February 05, 2025

 

Paved with good inventions: Road management needs new technologies, simpler regulations and improved collaboration


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As two EU-funded projects presented innovative digital, robotic and other technologies for cheaper, safer and more efficient road monitoring and maintenance, high-level participants in their conference identified how to pave the way for smarter and more 



European Science Communication Institute gGmbH

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Digital Motorway Inspection 

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Digital Motorway Inspection

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Credit: ESCI




Madrid, 16 January 2025 - Roads are the lifeblood of modern society and our economy, but Europe’s roads are getting old. Innovation and collaboration are key to their future, EU–funded projects OMICRON and InfraROB and high-level guests agreed in the one-day conference ‘Old Roads, New Technologies: safe and intelligent road asset management’. Held in Spain’s College of Civil Engineers, Canals and Ports in Madrid, the event highlighted regulatory, sustainability and collaborative challenges as well as innovative solutions for smarter infrastructure management.

To protect the future of Europe’s roads, OMICRON and InfraROB have developed ‘intelligent road asset management solutions’ for improved monitoring and maintenance in ways that support public and road-worker safety. During the event, both projects presented their digital, robotic and other technologies for cheaper, safer and smarter road construction, inspection and maintenance.

Around 120 industry leaders, researchers, representatives of road authorities, government departments, agencies and other expert stakeholders from around Europe joined the event, trying some of the demonstrated technologies and discussing how to pave the way for their wider adoption for safer, smarter and more sustainable infrastructure.

KEY MESSAGES FROM THE EVENT:

Panel discussions reviewed the presented technologies and considered the challenges and solutions for future safe and intelligent road management.

  • Claudia Ciuca, Project Officer with CINEA—Europe’s Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency—underscored the role of EU–funded road infrastructure projects in addressing environmental, transport performance and management challenges, as well as the opportunity to streamline standards and processes and to scale up Artificial Intelligence and other technologies across Europe for better data and resource-sharing.

“The future of road maintenance and inspection will be automated, data-driven and sustainable, leveraging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and robotics for proactive, efficient and eco-friendly solutions.” Claudia Ciuca, Project Officer, CINEA

  • Alejandro Lanuza of Spain’s General Directorate of Roads (DGC) in the Ministry of Transportation and Sustainable Mobility highlighted the need for standardised digital mapping and centralised road data to enable data-driven road management decisions and emphasised that innovation should align with sustainability goals.
    " Sustainability is not a cost, but an investment in resilience and safety. We need to map existing physical infrastructure into the digital world as soon as possible." Alejandro Lanuza, General Directorate of Roads, Spain
     
  • Federico Di Gennaro is Head of Innovation, Study Center and European Projects within the Italian road operator organisation Autostrade per l'Italia Group, a partner in the OMICRON project.

“The future of road maintenance lies in autonomous machinery and robotics to minimise safety risks for workers. As road operators, our goal is to reduce the time workers spend on roads in order to minimise their risks. We are seeking autonomous machinery for pavement operations and robotic platforms.” Federico di Gennaro, Autostrade per l’Italia

  • Christian Honeger is Head of the Asset Management department with infrastructure operator ASFINAG Bau, a partner in the InfraROB project.

“The ever-increasing volume of traffic and the growing need to refurbish our infrastructure is becoming a challenging task. The use of new technologies is therefore a welcome and important opportunity to ensure the safety of our employees and road users.” Christian Honeger, ASFINAG

The event presented OMICRON and InfraROB results under five session themes:

  • Smart construction
    • InfraROB’s pre-cast roadside concrete element promises to streamline construction while ensuring durability and sustainability. Tests indicate it could be installed in half the time for the reference standard and make it easier to maintain services like fibre optics without road surface disruption.
    • OMICRON’s ‘modular hybrid bridges’ can be built faster, more flexibly, and at a lower cost. Computer simulations showed they could reduce traffic disturbance through faster construction and limited highway interference.
  • Digital inspection & monitoring
    • OMICRON’s drone-based camera systems offer accurate, real-time road / critical infrastructure inspection and identification of issues, providing detailed data for digital analysis, visualisation and planning. Aerial inspection reduces (on-foot) safety risks and (vehicle-based) traffic disruption.
    • OMICRON’s ‘PointPix’ vehicle-mounted camera and LiDAR imaging system provides close-up data about road damage. This can lead to 50% lower inspection costs and 30% faster inspections.
    • InfraROB’s system using fibre-optic cables installed in asphalt can monitor in real time the strain and temperature changes happening in road infrastructures.
       
  • Predictive maintenance
    • InfraROB’s specially-designed models can optimise road maintenance by predicting when and where repairs will be needed, and Digital Twin and building information modelling (BIM) applications improve maintenance planning and execution.
    • OMICRON’s Digital Twin and Decision Support technologies offer a real-time, virtual representation of road networks, helping operators make better-informed decisions about maintenance, repair and upgrades. Uniquely, the Digital Twin can be accessed via a mobile phone without specialist software.
  • Smart interventions
    • InfraROB’s autonomous interventions use robotics and automation to perform paving tasks with greater precision and efficiency, as well as line painting, crack filling and pothole repairs, reducing the need for workers on the road and so improving safety.
    • OMICRON’s robotic platform is—uniquely—a multi-tool for crack sealing, line removal signal cleaning, and the placement and removal of signals, cones and safety barriers. Remotely controlled via a VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality)-based interface, the platform enables safer, more accurate and efficient repair processes.
       
  • Safe intervention
    • InfraROB’s remotely-piloted safety cones and aircraft systems improve traffic safety during roadworks by allowing safe traffic re-routing while workers and road users are kept safe.
    • Both projects discussed V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communications, which enables vehicles and infrastructure to communicate in real-time, reducing the risk of accidents and improving overall road safety. InfraROB’s focus was on traffic management, while OMICRON highlighted real-time road control and crisis response

CONCLUSIONS:

The event showed how Europe’s road infrastructure sector is on the brink of a technological revolution, with digital and robotic solutions shaping the future of road management. The ability to collect and analyse data effectively and in a collaborative way will be critical in making proactive decisions to prevent infrastructure deterioration and mitigate risks. The use of new materials, advanced construction methods, as well as robotic tools and digital technologies are all part of this ongoing evolution.

A full report of the event and each technology can be found via:

About OMICRON:

OMICRON fostered the industrialisation and automation of road construction, inspection and maintenance technologies. We integrated a broad portfolio of solutions, from inspection to execution, to: improve safety levels; increase the availability, reliability and capacity of the road network; reduce traffic disruptions; and lower construction and maintenance costs. The project ended on 31 January 2025, but we remain open for enquiries.

About InfraROB:

InfraROB aimed to reduce workers’ exposure to live traffic and construction machines, increase the availability of the transport network, reduce the cost of repetitive tasks, and increase the safety of road users by promoting significant advances in automating, robotising and modularising the construction, upgrade and maintenance of road infrastructure. The project runs until 28 February 2025.

 Drone Observation 

Drone Observation

OMICRON VR demonstration

Credit

ESCI, Laura Durnford



Robot developed during the OMICRON project

Digital Motorway Inspection

Credit

ESCI

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Ancient engravings shed light on early human symbolic thought and complexity in the Levantine middle Palaeolithic



The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
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The engraved cortical Levallois core of Manot. High-resolution photograph and 3D model 

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The engraved cortical Levallois core of Manot. High-resolution photograph and 3D model

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Credit: (photo by E. Ostrovsky and drawing by M. Smelansky, 3-D models by E. Paixao and L. Schunk.)




New study demonstrates that certain incised stone artefacts from the Levantine Middle Palaeolithic, specifically from Manot, Qafzeh, and Quneitra caves, were deliberately engraved with geometric patterns, indicating advanced cognitive and symbolic behaviour among early humans. In contrast, artefacts from Amud Cave, with shallow and unpatterned incisions, are consistent with functional use. This research highlights the intentionality behind the engravings, providing key insights into the development of abstract thinking and the cultural complexity of Middle Palaeolithic societies.

Link to photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yjBLQulh_uoy9mAyI3WTqvyvH9Y0IhMM?usp=sharing

A new study led by Dr. Mae Goder-Goldberger (Hebrew University and Ben Gurion University) and Dr. João Marreiros (Monrepos Archaeological Research Centre and Museum for Human Behavioural Evolution, LEIZA, and ICArEHB, University of Algarve), in collaboration with Prof. Erella Hovers (Hebrew University) and Dr. Eduardo Paixão (ICArEHB, University of Algarve), has shed new light on the behavioural complexity of Palaeolithic hominins. Published in [Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences], the research explores the intentionality behind incised stone artefacts, providing compelling evidence of abstract thinking and symbolic behaviour during the Middle Palaeolithic period.

Until now, the intentionality of Middle Palaeolithic incised stone artefacts was broadly accepted and although not well-supported by empirical testing. Many archaeologists viewed these marks as functional, created through tool use or natural wear. There was skepticism about the existence of abstract or symbolic thought in early hominins, with the understanding that symbolic behaviour, such as art or abstract expression, emerged much later in human evolution and is specifically associated with modern humans. This study challenges that view, offering evidence of deliberate, symbolic engravings prior to global colonization by modern humans.

The study focuses on artefacts from key Levantine sites, including Manot Cave, Amud Cave, Qafzeh Cave, and the open-air site of Quneitra. Using advanced 3D surface analysis, the researchers examined the geometry and patterns of incisions to distinguish intentional engravings from functional marks. The findings reveal striking differences:

Artefacts from Manot, Qafzeh, and Quneitra feature deliberate engravings with geometric patterns that align with the surface topography, underscoring their aesthetic and symbolic intent. In contrast, incisions on artefacts from Amud Cave are shallow, unpatterned, and consistent with functional use as abraders.

Dr. Mae Goder-Goldberger explains, "Abstract thinking is a cornerstone of human cognitive evolution. The deliberate engravings found on these artefacts highlight the capacity for symbolic expression and suggest a society with advanced conceptual abilities."

Dr. João Marreiros added, “The methodology we employed not only highlights the intentional nature of these engravings but also provides for the first time a comparative framework for studying similar artefacts, enriching our understanding of Middle Palaeolithic societies.”

While the engraved artefacts from Qafzeh, Quneitra, and Manot are isolated initiatives within their chronological and geographic contexts, the shared traits of the incisions themselves and the similarities in pattern structuring suggest intentional, predetermined actions. These findings deepen our understanding of symbolic behaviour and offer crucial insights into the cognitive and cultural development of early hominins.

This research marks a significant step toward understanding the scope of symbolic behavior of our ancestors, bridging the gap between functional tool use and abstract expression.

Photo of Amud 1, the retouched blade, note the Incisions on the cortex

Credit

(Photo by Erella Hovers)



Journal

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

DOI

10.1007/s12520-024-02111-4 

Method of Research

Observational study

Article Title

Incised stone artefacts from the Levantine Middle Palaeolithic and human behavioural complexity

Article Publi

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Mizzou researchers discover simple solution to break down forever chemicals



The answer to removing PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” may be in your fishbowl.



University of Missouri-Columbia

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Frank Xiao 

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Associate Professor Feng “Frank” Xiao’s research into PFAS has yielded a simple solution to effectively and efficiently remove forever chemicals from water.

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Credit: Zac Anderson/University of Missouri




By Theo Schwinke

A University of Missouri researcher has discovered a new method to remove so-called “forever chemicals” from our drinking water.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) are industrial chemicals used to manufacture thousands of products, including cosmetics, carpeting, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams, food packaging and waterproof clothing.

They’re everywhere — the environment, our food and even in our bodies. Peer-reviewed studies have shown that exposure to PFAS may lead to decreased fertility, developmental delays in children and increased risk of some cancers. And they take hundreds or even thousands of years to break down.

For roughly the past 10 years, researchers have been looking for ways to remove PFAS from the environment or at least degrade them into harmless, inorganic compounds.

Now, Feng “Frank” Xiao, an associate professor in Mizzou’s College of Engineering, and team have found a simple solution using common tools and materials.

“You don’t need organic solvent or really high temperatures,” Xiao, an expert in degrading PFAS, said. “Just heat the PFAS with granular activated carbon, or GAC.”

GAC is composed of granules of coal, wood or other carbon-rich materials that have been heated. It is already commonly used to filter a wide range of harmful chemicals from contaminated water or air. Consumers use it to clean household aquariums or filter drinking water, and it can be purchased online for just a few dollars per pound.

In a paper recently published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, Xiao and his team describe how they heated PFAS with common GAC at 572 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, the researchers achieved 90% mineralization of the PFAS, breaking the forever chemicals down into harmless, inorganic fluorine.

Before now, reaching this level of mineralization required temperatures in excess of 1292 degrees Fahrenheit, high pressure or solvents. Xiao’s method is much more cost effective and sustainable, as GAC is inexpensive and can be reheated again and again.

Potential applications

The key to Xiao’s innovation is the combination of GAC and heat.

“Once GAC is involved, the thermal degradation of PFAS occurs much faster, and the mineralization is more intense,” Xiao said. “It’s not an expensive process, compared to reverse osmosis, and it can be done at local scale with a regular furnace.”

The discovery represents a significant breakthrough in managing PFAS-containing solid wastes, biosolids and spent adsorbent media that are major concerns to farmers and communities.

“In the Midwest, we use a lot of herbicides and give animals a lot of pharmaceuticals,” Xiao said. “These substances can contain high amounts of PFAS. Through this new removal method, we can drastically reduce the compounds’ presence in our lives.”

Xiao chose Mizzou for the opportunities he has to collaborate with other leading researchers and for the quality of the scholarship of undergraduate and graduate students.

“I teach environmental courses, and the students really care about the environment. They care about the water quality, and they care about our ecosystem,” Xiao said.

Xiao communicates to those students his passion for practical research and the opportunities they have to create a better world through engineering.

“The real-world application of this discovery is that we can effectively and efficiently remove forever chemicals and other contaminants from our water,” he said. “This is the technology we need.”

Journal

Environmental Science & Technology

DOI

10.1021/acs.est.4c05782 

Article Title

New Insights into Thermal Degradation Products of Long-Chain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Their Mineralization Enhancement Using AdditivesClick to copy article link

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How AI bias shapes everything from hiring to healthcare



As international AI competition heats up, newly published research suggests ethics must remain a top priority




University of Oklahoma

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Naveen Kumar 1 

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Naveen Kumar with AI-inspired background. 

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Credit: Travis Caperton




Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Copilot are transforming industries at a rapid pace. However, as these large language models become less expensive and more widely used for critical decision-making, their built-in biases can distort outcomes and erode public trust.

Naveen Kumar, an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business, has co-authored a study emphasizing the urgent need to address bias by developing and deploying ethical, explainable AI. This includes methods and policies that ensure fairness and transparency and reduce stereotypes and discrimination in LLM applications.

“As international players like DeepSeek and Alibaba release platforms that are either free or much less expensive, there is going to be a global AI price race,” Kumar said. “When price is the priority, will there still be a focus on ethical issues and regulations around bias? Or, since there are now international companies involved, will there be a push for more rapid regulation? We hope it’s the latter, but we will have to wait and see.”

According to research cited in their study, nearly a third of those surveyed believe they have lost opportunities, such as financial or job prospects, due to biased AI algorithms. Kumar notes that AI systems have focused on removing explicit biases, but implicit biases remain. As these LLMs become smarter, detecting implicit bias will be more challenging. This is why the need for ethical policies is so important.

“As these LLMs play a bigger role in society, specifically in finance, marketing, human relations and even healthcare, they must align with human preferences. Otherwise, they could lead to biased outcomes and unfair decisions,” he said. “Biased models in healthcare can lead to inequities in patient care; biased recruitment algorithms could favor one gender or race over another; or biased advertising models may perpetuate stereotypes.”

While explainable AI and ethical policies are being established, Kumar and his collaborators call on scholars to develop proactive technical and organizational solutions for monitoring and mitigating LLM bias. They also suggest that a balanced approach should be used to ensure AI applications remain efficient, fair and transparent.

“This industry is moving very fast, so there is going to be a lot of tension between stakeholders with differing objectives. We must balance the concerns of each player—the developer, the business executive, the ethicist, the regulator—to appropriately address bias in these LLM models,” he said. “Finding the sweet spot across different business domains and different regional regulations will be the key to success.”

About the project

“Addressing bias in generative AI: Challenges and research opportunities in information management” is published in the journal Information & Management, DOI no. 10.1016/j.im.2025.104103. Kumar, who is an associate professor of management information systems at OU, co-authored this paper with Xiahua Wei from the University of Washington, Bothell and Han Zhang from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Hong Kong Baptist University.

Journal

Information & Management

DOI

10.1016/j.im.2025.104103 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Addressing bias in generative AI: Challenges and research opportunities in information management

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Study shows increase in calls to poison centers for child and adolescent exposures to caffeine energy products, including 633% increase in powdered caffeine exposures



Nationwide Children's Hospital
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(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – A new study examining calls to United States poison centers for exposures to caffeine energy products in people younger than 20 years, conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center, shows a significant rise in exposure rates from 2011 through 2023, with variations by product formulation. 

The study, published in Journal of Medical Toxicology, found 32,482 caffeine energy product exposures reported to U.S. poison centers from 2011 through 2023. While the overall exposure rate increased modestly at 17% during the study period, exposure rates varied by product formulation, increasing by 35% for liquids, decreasing by 52% for solids, and – most alarmingly – increasing by 633% for powders/granules. This study did not include coffee, tea, or caffeinated soft drinks in its data.

“The increase in the powder/granules category includes products such as pre-workout powders and powdered caffeine that consumers can add to drinks. Because of unclear dosing instructions or preparation errors, overdose can occur,” said Hannah Hays, MD, co-author of the study and medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Center. “Concentrated powder or granules may also be mistaken by a young child as a food item. Our study noted most exposures in children younger than 6 years (98%) and 6-12 years (56%) were unintentional across all caffeine categories, which is consistent with the natural curiosity and exploratory nature of these age groups.”

Across all caffeine formulations in the study, most exposures were among children younger than 6 years (70%), males (57%), or involved liquid formulations (58%). Most (81%) exposures were not treated in a health care facility; however, 1.6% were medically admitted. Teenagers (13-19 years old) were more likely to be medically admitted or have a serious medical outcome than children younger than 13 years old. Solid energy product formulations (e.g., tablets, crystals, capsules) were more likely to be associated with a serious medical outcome or medical admission than other types of formulations. Among liquid formulation subcategories, the exposure rate for beverages increased (47%) and that for shots decreased (-86%).

“The difference in the adolescent age group was that most exposures were intentional (61%),” said Dr. Hays, also faculty in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s. “Unfortunately, some of these exposures were self-harm attempts, and nearly all (94%) of reported self-harm attempts in this study were in the teen age group.” 

Almost two-thirds (64%) of the 959 self-harm attempts were among females and 86% involved solid product formulations. These cases were more likely to be associated with a serious medical outcome or medical admission than other reasons for exposure combined.

More than two-thirds of exposures to caffeine energy products in this study were among children younger than 6 years old, and the rate of exposure in this age group increased by 20% during the 13-year period, emphasizing the need for safe storage of these products.

“The high and increasing rate of exposure in this vulnerable age group indicates that caffeine energy products are accessible and attractive to young children,” said Dr. Hays. “Caffeine energy products should not have packaging that is appealing to young children and should be kept out of the sight and reach of young children.” 

Other recommendations for parents/guardians and caregivers:

  • Talk to children and teens about caffeine energy products. Have age-appropriate conversations with children about caffeine energy products, explaining what these products are and why they can be dangerous. Review labels together so everyone understands what’s in the products. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children and teens should not consume energy drinks. 

  • Store caffeine energy products safely. The best way to keep children safe from caffeine energy products is to keep them out of the home. If these products are kept in the home, store them in a safe place away from your children – stored up and out of sight, away from food, and locked if possible. Ask that caregivers around your child do the same in their homes.

  • Don’t use these products in front of children. It is helpful to never use these products in front of your children, especially if packaged to look like treats.

  • Save the national Poison Help Line number (1-800-222-1222) in your phone and post it in a visible place in your home. The Poison Help Line provides free, confidential advice from experts, 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Data for this study were obtained from the National Poison Data System (NPDS), which is maintained by America’s Poison Centers, formerly the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). Poison centers receive phone calls through the national Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) and document information about the product, route of exposure, individual exposed, exposure scenario, and other data, which are reported to the NPDS.

The Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital works globally to reduce injury-related pediatric death and disabilities. With innovative research at its core, CIRP works to continually improve the scientific understanding of the epidemiology, biomechanics, prevention, acute treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries. CIRP serves as a pioneer by translating cutting edge injury research into education, policy, and advances in clinical care. For related injury prevention materials or to learn more about CIRP, visit www.injurycenter.org. Follow CIRP on Instagram @CIRPatNCH.

The Central Ohio Poison Center (COPC) provides state-of-the-art poison prevention, assessment, and treatment to residents in 64 of Ohio’s 88 counties. The center’s services are available to the public, medical professionals, industry, and human service agencies. COPC handles more than 42,000 poison exposure calls annually, and confidential, free emergency poisoning treatment advice is available 24/7. To learn more about COPC, visit www.bepoisonsmart.org. Follow COPC on X @OHPoisonControl and Facebook Facebook.com/CentralOhioPoisonCenter.

Journal

Journal of Medical Toxicology

DOI

10.1007/s13181-025-01057-w 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Pediatric Exposures Associated with Caffeine Energy Products Reported to United States Poison Centers, 2011–2023

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