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DRIMS in Kenya
DRIMS (VIMS) was first introduced to Kenya in 2012. Through a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) project, DRIMS consisting of PC, MEMS accelerometer and external GPS was explained to Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) and other organization. Demonstrative drives and training to engineers at the road authorities were performed. Comparison of DRIMS outcomes with Rophometer III, a conventional road evaluation equipment, at the first demonstrative drive, showed a good agreement, developing the expectation on DRIMS as a inexpensive yet reliable road evaluation technology.
Based on the feedback from Kenya road authorities, DRIMS technologies have been improved. For example, compensation of drive speed differences was initially performed through drive tests at multiple constant drive speeds on a road while the current DRIMS compensates for the difference purely through simulations. The feedback on the hardware resulted in the change from PC-based equipment to smartphone-based measurement. Post-processing of IRI estimation results has been implemented. Most recent update based on the feedback is the omission of hump calibration test; the vehicle dynamic characteristics are now automatically identified through ordinary drive records.
DRIMS has been locally compared with several road evaluation techniques and its advantage in terms of the estimation accuracy and ease of use has been made clear.
DRIMS implementation in Kenya has moved to the next step. The technology introduced through JICA projects is now offered through a local agent company; The technology is provided on a commercial basis. The advanced road management in Kenya taking advantage of the inexpensive road evaluation technology is expected to continue.
