SmartMetRoad | ESA Space Solutions

Objectives of the service

Extreme weather events pose a growing threat to road safety and infrastructure. SmartMetRoad is a solution designed to enable road authorities, civil protection agencies, and infrastructure operators to stay ahead of the curve. This innovative service integrates real-time data from satellites, weather radars, numerical weather prediction models, vehicle-mounted IoT sensors, and rapid drone-based monitoring systems—all interconnected via robust hybrid 5G and satellite networks.

SmartMetRoad provides constantly updated, local and hyper-local weather risk monitoring and forecasts, through intuitive maps, dashboards, mobile-friendly tools and target-specific alerts. This enables the planning and prioritization of preventive measures, resource optimization, and faster emergency responses, thereby reducing costs and saving lives.

The project aims to develop, demonstrate, and validate this cutting-edge solution in real-world operational settings, ensuring reliability, ease of use, and seamless integration into existing workflows. SmartMetRoad provides the tools to make data-driven decisions, enhance safety, and build more resilient and sustainable communities.

Users and their needs

The SmartMetRoad project currently targets user communities responsible for the management and safety of road networks and critical infrastructures. The pilot will involve a large area of central Italy, particularly the Abruzzo region. The main users involved are:

National and regional road authorities (e.g., ANAS Abruzzo e Molise)
Motorway concessionaires (e.g., Strada dei Parchi)
Municipal civil protection and road management departments (e.g., Comune dell’Aquila, mobility and civil protection sectors)

User needs:

Reliable, real-time forecasts and alerts for weather-related risks (ice, snow, heavy rain etc.)
Tools for efficient planning of preventive operations (salt spreading, positioning and preparation of snow ploughs, etc.);
Tools for efficient prioritization of field operations;
Rapid, on-field validation of hazards via drones and smart vehicles, eventually triggered by the weather risk alerts;
Easy integration with existing operational workflows
Reduction of operating costs and legal liabilities of infrastructure managers.

Challenges for the project:

Ensuring high reliability and accuracy of risk forecasts
Seamless integration of heterogeneous data sources (satellite, radar, IoT, drones)
Providing user-friendly interfaces for diverse operational roles

Guaranteeing resilient communications (5G/SATCOM) in all conditions

Adapting to regulatory and organizational constraints of infrastructure authorities

Service/ system concept

SmartMetRoad gives road and infrastructure managers the power to see and act on weather risks before they become problems. Users receive real-time, hyper-local forecasts and instant alerts for hazards like ice, snow, and heavy rain. Information is delivered through easy-to-read maps, dashboards, and mobile tools, helping teams plan, prioritize, and respond quickly—from the control room to the field.

Key features include:

Live risk maps and color-coded alerts for specific road sections
Target-specific text alerts and mobile-friendly dashboards for operators on the move
Rapid on-site validation using drone images and smart vehicle sensors
Continuous updates as new data arrives

How it works:

Data Collection: Satellites, weather radars, IoT sensors on vehicles, and drones gather weather and road data.
Hybrid Network: A robust hybrid 5G /satellite network ensures data flows smoothly, even in remote areas.
Central Processing: Advanced AI models analyze the data in real time.
User Interfaces: Results are delivered as actionable maps, dashboards, and alerts to decision-makers and field teams.

This architecture ensures users always have the latest, most relevant information to keep roads and infrastructure safe and operations efficient.

Space Added Value

SmartMetRoad leverages several space assets to deliver advanced road safety and infrastructure management services, such as:

Meteorological satellites (notably MTG-I1 Lightning Imager) for high-resolution, real-time weather observation and severe thunderstorms detection and nowcasting.
Satellite communications (SATCOM), using constellations like OneWeb and Starlink, to ensure resilient, seamless data transfer from remote areas and during emergencies when terrestrial networks (5G) may be unavailable or disrupted.

Added value of combining space assets:

Superior coverage and reliability: Satellite EO, combined with weather radar remote sensing, provides continuous wide-area monitoring, enabling severe thunderstorm detection even in areas not covered by in situ weather stations.
When 5G connectivity is unavailable, SATCOM ensures that alerts are always up-to-date and reach users anywhere, from anywhere, overcoming the limitations of terrestrial networks.
Operational continuity: The hybrid 5G/SATCOM network guarantees uninterrupted service, even during extreme weather events that can disrupt ground communications.

Current Status

In Italy, numerous users rely on HIMET's meteorological services to manage infrastructure risks. Three of these customers were contacted to provide feedback on the planned update, and two of them (ANAS Abruzzo and Strada dei Parchi) were directly involved in the project as end users, along with the Municipality of L'Aquila.

Furthermore, Telespazio has been experimenting with satellite and drone monitoring data integrated with early warning systems on different use cases.

During the first four months of the project, several meetings were held with the three end users involved:

two teleconference meetings with SdP;
two in-person meetings with the Municipality of L'Aquila;
one teleconference meeting with ANAS Abruzzo and Molise.

Through these meetings, the specific needs and requirements of the users were consolidated and, consequently, the corresponding system requirements were defined. Moreover, Pilot areas were identified and field-testing procedures for SmartMetRoad services were defined and planned.