Digital platform for sustainable roads

Policy approach(es) used to catalyse investment: Development of a national, regional, or sectoral InfraTech strategy  

Commercial approach(es) used to catalyse investment: A new, innovative source of revenue

Technology approach(es) used to catalyse investment: Implementation of a data platform or digital twin for greater transparency over performance; implementation of cybersecurity or improved privacy measures 

Finance approach(es) used to catalyse investment: Strategic investment by a corporate partner 

ORIS is an InfraTech solution, developed by materials expert LafargeHolcim in partnership with IBM, for ensuring resilient, sustainable, and cost-efficient roads. ORIS integrates all information on a road project on a single platform, with local pavement designs, construction materials and methods, weather data, etc. The ORIS platform helps to provide a holistic analysis for the best road design, connecting road design with the digital transformation to enable an efficient, more sustainable, and just transformation of roads.

Supported by artificial intelligence, ORIS analyses road designs at the early stage of a project with a holistic view to improve sustainability in road construction. With the use of ORIS, sustainability in road networks is improved: costs are reduced by 15–30%, the carbon footprint is mitigated by up to 50%, natural resource consumption is reduced by up to 80%, and durability is multiplied by three.

Challenges experienced/overcome in implementation

The funding of ORIS has been incremental, starting with a proof of concept in 2018, to a product market fit in 2020. In 2021 it was internally agreed at Holcim to bring the product to market. Seed funding was obtained alongside the creation of the company and first ’go to market’ strategies. ORIS is targeting self-financing the company in three years. 

The emergence of a digital platform involving multiple stakeholders and multiple dimensions in an evolving regulatory landscape requires changes and adaptations. 

Multiple functionalities are built-in ORIS for each stakeholder along the value chain. Multidimensional measurement of infrastructure projects is key to support decision-making for owners and financiers.

Technological solution deployed for this project  

ORIS integrates all information of a road project on one single platform, with local pavement designs, construction materials and methods, weather data, etc. The ORIS platform helps to provide a holistic analysis for the best road design, connecting road design with the digital transformation to enable an efficient, more sustainable and just transformation of roads.

Note: This case study and all information within was submitted by ORIS in response to our global call for InfraTech case studies.