Plexal and Transport for London unveil final RoadLab cohort

Plexal, the innovation center and co-working space based at the Here East tech campus in East London, has revealed the nine companies that make up the London RoadLab program that aims to reduce the impact of road works on the UK capital’s road network. 

The RoadLab program is being delivered on behalf of Transport for London (TfL) and in partnership with major utilities companies and London councils with the goal being to make the city’s roads smarter, safer and more inclusive during road works. The goal of London RoadLab is to uncover and support solutions that can address some of the capital’s most pressing road works-related challenges. These include congestion, pollution, potholes and diversions that make streets inaccessible for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians alike. The program also aims to make road works more efficient and safer for the workers on-site. The program will conclude on May 1, when the participants will pitch their ideas to TfL and its partners, and be considered for contracts.

Back in October 2018, Plexal announced an open call for entries for the 10-week London RoadLab program aimed at sourcing new technology solutions that could minimize the impact of road works. And after a competitive selection process, the nine companies that make up the first cohort have been given access to pilot sites, funding and expert advice to help them develop their solutions. The cohort has also been given access to data mentors from TfL, who have helped them test their ideas on pilot sites, guided them through TfL’s rich data stores, and provided lessons from previous TfL projects. They will then pitch their ideas at a Demo Day and get the chance to be considered for contracts with TfL and the utilities partners supporting the program.

The nine companies in the London RoadLab cohort are:

• EMU Analytics – Visual mapping software that enables public visibility of road works and contextualizes information by demonstrating how aspects of London’s public journeys might be impacted by road works;
• Geve – An on-site communication app for contractors and road workers that integrates with in-house visualization tools and map;
• Grid Smarter Cities – A traffic management system to identify and manage virtual holding bays for freight vehicles around road works and constructions sites;
• Immense Simulations – A simulation-as-a-service platform that automates what is traditionally a manual and time-consuming process of modeling to understand the impacts of road works on traffic;
• Mobilized Construction – Using high-frequency, network-wide road quality data and analytics to monitor road network health and deterioration in real time using retrofitted IoT devices on vehicles;
• Oxford Plastic – New and innovative physical road work barriers and safety products;
• Route Reports – Vehicle-fitted IoT devices specifically designed to collect data on road quality and potholes, which is analyzed and presented using an AI analytics platform;
• RSK Environment – Novel deployment and advanced processing of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology to detect water leaks and collect information about the subsurface;
• Social Asset Management – A global disruption monitoring tool that will deliver speedy alerts and situational awareness to disruptive activities and emergency events relating to road works through the lens of social media.