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<p><strong>The Enschede-based company WEGtrax, founded by Sriram Arumugam, is developing an AI-driven platform that uses satellite imagery to monitor the condition of infrastructure more effectively and sustainably. By combining artificial intelligence with Earth observation data, WEGtrax helps governments plan maintenance more intelligently, save costs, and reduce their carbon footprint.</strong></p><h2><img src="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/WE_Gtrax_6321943272.png?token=_zs8ExXSYy1T3kDH1OzQq74Qqc5wyeK50b9G2HkB9JY&amp;expires=1777470526" alt="WEGtrax.png" srcset="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/thumbnail_WE_Gtrax_6321943272.png?token=DFaTeDjNPPNkBkDEkHaj1POUqjWp12_RHdWT-pN55dc&amp;expires=1777470526 170w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/small_WE_Gtrax_6321943272.png?token=Nj0g7PhDlVe7EmknVFf5dHtr40Qaus4bEDd8UL2ryvA&amp;expires=1777470526 500w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/medium_WE_Gtrax_6321943272.png?token=erOx0HFay-N50dCGVIqePgQZnYjzzsCK8f80GxsLI5Q&amp;expires=1777470526 750w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/large_WE_Gtrax_6321943272.png?token=v7lc1uBSelvjhsbXnlaspm8MWcQYsdk7sXrYe0Unh_I&amp;expires=1777470526 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="942">From Master’s Research to a Startup </h2><p>The idea for WEGtrax originated during Arumugam’s master’s research at the University of Twente. “We saw that governments maintain their infrastructure well, but that the methods used—such as LiDAR vehicles and physical inspections—are difficult to scale up,” he explains. “With satellite data and AI, you can do the same thing, only faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly.”</p><p>By combining satellite data with artificial intelligence, WEGtrax can accurately predict where roads, bridges, or other infrastructure need maintenance. This gives municipalities the opportunity to intervene earlier and plan maintenance more efficiently, before problems escalate.</p><h2>How does it work? </h2><p>WEGtrax uses synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery to detect subtle changes in the reflection from the road surface. “We link those radar signals to what’s known as ground truth data and feed them into our AI model,” Arumugam explains. “That enables us to identify potential problems with an accuracy of up to 96–97%.” The model has now been validated on both the Tennessee highway network in the United States and the A2 highway in the Netherlands, with equally strong results in both cases.</p><h2>From Prototype to Real-World Application </h2><p>With a working prototype in hand, Wegtrax is now looking for municipal partners in the Netherlands to validate the technology under real-world conditions. “The technology works,” says Arumugam. “Now we need partners who can confirm that it meets their operational needs.”</p><p>In February, the company will participate in Novel-T’s Advanced Accelerator Program, following the successful completion of the startup track. “That program taught us a lot about market validation, customer segmentation, and business development,” he explains. “In the coming months, we’ll continue to tailor the technology to real-world conditions.”</p><h2>Challenges and Growth Plans </h2><p>The biggest obstacle? Computing power. “Earth observation data is massive,” says Arumugam. “Even with optimized code, servers quickly reach their limits. We need high-speed servers to further develop our models.” In addition, Arumugam is working on expanding his team: “So far, I’ve developed three products on my own. Now I’m looking for technical talent to help me build further.”</p><p>WEGtrax aims to support multiple government organizations—from municipalities to Rijkswaterstaat—with its service within a year. And its long-term goal is to look beyond just roads: bridges, buildings, and other infrastructure will also be included. “Our ambition is to help every government manage its infrastructure sustainably and efficiently,” Arumugam concludes.  </p><p>WEGtrax is currently seeking municipalities and other public entities that wish to participate in the further validation of the AI model. Are you or do you know any organizations that might be interested? Please contact us at www.linkedin.com/company/wegtrax or visit the <a href="https://www.wegtrax.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WEGtrax website</a>.</p>

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<p>The Enschede-based company WEGtrax, founded by Sriram Arumugam, is developing an AI-driven platform that uses satellite imagery to monitor the condition of infrastructure more effectively and sustainably. By combining artificial intelligence with Earth observation data, WEGtrax helps governments plan maintenance more intelligently, save costs, and reduce their carbon footprint.&nbsp;</p>