90% of Croatian State Roads Equipped with AKSULIT RFID Technology
Smart View is a Croatian company founded in 2015, specializing in traffic sign quality testing and the development of new technologies. The company employs eight professionals. In 2015, Smart View began a collaboration with the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences at the University of Zagreb to study traffic sign quality, with a special focus on reflectivity measurements.
This collaboration extended to Croatian Roads, a state-owned company, and led to a major project involving the inspection of over 149,000 traffic signs across all Croatian state roads. The project laid the foundation for a comprehensive traffic sign database used to support maintenance and replacement planning.
The AKSULIT-developed scanning system identifies tags from a moving vehicle
Together with its partners, AKSULIT developed an RFID tag that could be read from a distance of up to 30 meters and speeds of up to 100 km/h. The tag, mounted directly onto the traffic sign, was thoroughly tested to withstand varying weather conditions.
The system was developed in close cooperation with Smart View. In the early stages, AKSULIT conducted multiple field tests on-site in Croatia to understand the real-world challenges. As the system was deployed in actual use, its functionality was refined based on user feedback and performance requirements.
RFID was selected as the most efficient and reliable technology for traffic sign identification. The solution used passive RFID, which benefits from the metal of the traffic signs enhancing the signal, allowing longer read distances. In addition, AKSULIT developed an in-vehicle RFID scanning system that enables communication with the tags mounted on traffic signs — eliminating the need to stop the vehicle for reading. The system reads traffic sign data while driving.
Educational Collaboration During Testing Phase
The development and implementation of the AKSULIT solution progressed in stages. The first step involved testing RFID tag performance and designing optimal antennas for identification. Testing utilized climate chambers at JAMK’s tech labs to ensure tag durability in harsh weather.
AKSULIT also partnered with EduFutura Jyväskylä, an educational collaboration between JAMK University of Applied Sciences, the University of Jyväskylä, and Gradia. Through this partnership, Gradia provided vehicles for field testing, and students participated in practical test runs.
The test phase involved hundreds of prototypes and field tests under real road conditions in Croatia to ensure the tags, antennas, and software performed reliably. During the pilot project, 3,750 RFID tags were installed.
International Recognition for the Final System
The AKSULIT system enables Smart View to offer a user-friendly tool for managing traffic signs. The database updates automatically, providing real-time information that helps with maintenance planning and cost optimization. The solution has received overwhelmingly positive feedback for improving traffic sign quality and enhancing road safety across Croatia.
Thanks to the success of the project, Smart View received the Global Road Achievement Award from the International Road Federation (IRF) in 2018 in the Quality Management category. The award was presented at the IRF conference held in Las Vegas.
Toward a Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Management System
Smart View now aims to expand the AKSULIT solution. The goal is to extend the system beyond state roads to other infrastructure and to further utilize RFID in other traffic-related applications. Future development plans include automatic recognition of road markings from a moving vehicle, which would allow road maintenance to be managed just as efficiently as sign maintenance. In a more advanced scenario, the system could detect road wear, cracks, landslides, and other surface damage — further improving safety.. In the long term, the vision is to optimize and control traffic and road usage by creating an integrated system where RFID tags are installed in traffic signs, road surfaces, vehicles — all communicating together..
