Open calls

The challenge

We are on a mission to tackle the blight of graffiti by finding new products to remove graffiti but also potential solutions that will prevent the vandalism appearing in the first place.

Graffiti on bridges and next to roads can be distracting for drivers and the clean-up often requires lane or road closures, disrupting traffic. And it is costly – up to £10,000 to remove one instance of graffiti.

The competition

We launched a competition with partners Kier and Connected Places Catapult to identify new solutions for dealing with graffiti. The programme sought to award up to six organisations with £30,000 to design a trial of their technology on a road network testbed.

The technology could include:

• Behaviour detection and analysis
• Solutions to reduce disruption to the road network while maintenance work is being carried out
• Visual deterrents
• Surveillance and CCTV
• Removable green walls
• Anti-graffiti coatings and paint
• Asset management solutions

The results

More than a dozen companies submitted their concepts and products. The five most promising are now developing their ideas. They will produce a feasibility study for National Highways to decide on the most promising products to take forward for use on the road network.

The five winning ideas are:

• Audio sensors that will detect the application of graffiti to alert authorities and trigger audio and visual deterrents.
• Artificial Intelligence software that will analyse behaviour to detect vandals at graffiti hotspots and then deterrents such as alarms and lights can be activated.
• Wall-climbing robotics that apply graffiti preventative paints, reducing the risk of such hazards as working at heights for the workforce.
• Using lasers to remove graffiti from surfaces whilst preventing additional damage to the finish of surface coatings and films.
• A 3D chemical coating to prevent the adhesion of graffiti to a variety of surfaces and films.

Transforming road markings

The challenge

We’re always looking to improve how we operate and maintain our roads.

When road markings need to be altered or removed, for example when lane layouts change, faint traces of the original markings can remain.

These 'ghost lines' can confuse motorists, particularly in very bright or wet conditions.

The competition

In partnership with Roadcare and Kier, We launched a global search for effective roadmarkings that:

• can be completely removed without damaging the road surface
• don’t leave ‘ghost lines’.

We used our Innovation Designated Fund to help finance the competition.

We received thirty-six entries from around the world. We chose seven winners and tested their materials including:

• lab trials in Madrid, where products were subjected to two million 'wheel overs'
• real-world all-weather testing on the M5 motorway in South West England.

The results

After laboratory testing, we installed the winning solutions on the M5 in April 2019. We tested their performance periodically and assessed the results against data from the laboratory turntable testing. We also tested five removal systems on each of the markings.

After two years of testing in all weathers on a stretch of road that saw 31 million vehicles pass through in that time, we have produced a full report of our findings.

The findings are to be considered as part of a road markings action plan within National Highways.

Developing digital roads and improving air quality

In February 2019, alongside Innovate UK, we launched two competitions seeking creative ideas for revolutionising roads and driving.

We received more than 200 entries from a diverse network of innovators.

Just over a third from micro companies employing fewer than 10 people.​

The competition

As a result of the competitions, we awarded £10 million funding to six pilot projects and seven feasibility studies.

These included:

• concepts for new construction materials and road surface technologies
• different ways of tackling air quality
• providing real-time data to connected vehicles.

For example, one successful entry proposed technology known as Green Light Optimised Speed Advisory.  This gives drivers speed information that helps them to pass through green traffic lights. Reducing the number of vehicle stop-starts at signalised motorway junctions can, in turn, improve air quality.

The results​

We’re in the process of developing and testing the winning ideas, to find how they can help to support our three imperatives of safety, customer service and delivery.​

CCTV analytics Vivacity

Our tunnel incident detection testbed enables manufacturers to trial and evaluate their products in a live environment.

This helps us to identify and procure the the most accurate and reliable detection equipment:

• ensuring the most rapid response to incidents possible
• keeping road users safe​

The competition

In competition at the Highways UK Intelligent Infrastructure Hub, Vivacity won the opportunity to demonstrate their equipment's capabilities in our testbed.

They were installed in October 2018, and evaluated until May 2019.​

The results​

Through testing and evaluation from 2018 and 2019, Vivacity’s product exceeded expectations in all performance criteria. Vivacity is now part of our our Stopped Vehicle Detection framework of suppliers.