Chongqing Expressway Group announced that its subsidiary Shouxun Technology has achieved a major technological breakthrough in “AI + drone” traffic inspection. By deeply integrating drones with artificial intelligence, the company has successfully implemented “round-the-clock, intelligent inspection” on a 140-kilometer demonstration section of the Chongqing Ring Expressway (G5001).
The technology uses AI-powered visual analysis from the drone’s perspective to achieve real-time zoning of road areas and precise identification of road assets (such as signs, gantries, and billboards). It also enables real-time monitoring and reporting of abnormal events on the road section, providing an innovative and replicable solution for expressway inspection and management.
Currently, Shouxun Technology has deployed 14 drones along the 140-kilometer demonstration section of the Chongqing Ring Expressway (G5001). Each drone, connected to backend AI algorithms, has been equipped with systems for monitoring traffic signs, gantries, and various traffic scenarios. This setup allows for the detection of eight types of events (five during the day and three at night)—including illegal parking, congestion, pedestrian intrusion, wrong-way driving, and non-motorized vehicles on the highway—within seconds. The recognition accuracy reaches 93.2%, and events can be reported to the network control center in as little as 2.3 seconds.
At the technical application level, Shouxun Technology’s drone inspection system demonstrates significant advantages. A single inspection route can cover approximately 11 kilometers, effectively addressing blind spots associated with traditional cameras. During the day, high-definition cameras provide comprehensive monitoring, while at night, the system switches to infrared mode. This overcomes previous limitations in nighttime inspections, enabling 24/7 safety monitoring and significantly improving the detection and handling rate of abnormal incidents.
Notably, the technology can also be applied in safety and environmentally conscious construction scenarios. When conducting comprehensive inspections of construction zones, the drones can quickly generate detailed construction diagrams. By comparing these with relevant construction management regulations, the system automatically identifies compliance with safety standards, offering an intelligent supervision tool for construction site safety management.
The next step involves continuing to deepen the application of “AI + drone” technology in expressway scenarios, with a focus on optimizing algorithms and expanding its use in areas such as road maintenance, emergency response, and structural monitoring. This will provide stronger technical support for the development of smart expressways and help ensure the safe operation of Chongqing’s 4,700-kilometer expressway network.
