Malta Reshapes Mobility with Digitised Road Management with TRL iROADS
Malta, with its rich history and tightly woven infrastructure, is now steering its transport network firmly into the digital age. In a move set to transform the way road assets are managed, Transport Malta has launched TM Roads, a brand-new digital platform powered by TRL Software’s cutting-edge iROADS system.
This milestone marks a significant departure from the cumbersome manual methods that once governed roadwork permits and asset management across the island. Instead, TM Roads promises to usher in a more streamlined, coordinated, and transparent way of maintaining and upgrading road infrastructure. At the heart of this shift is iROADS: TRL Software’s cloud-based asset management solution, designed to consolidate data, drive decision-making, and cut through inefficiencies like a hot knife through tarmac.
What exactly is TM Roads?
TM Roads is more than just a digital toolkit. It’s a tailored version of the commercially available iROADS platform, adapted specifically to meet the unique logistical and regulatory needs of Malta. Sitting on a scalable, cloud-based architecture, TM Roads acts as a central hub for coordinating roadworks, permits, inspections, and communications between multiple stakeholders.
Government departments, utility companies, contractors, and the general public can all access relevant data and updates through a unified interface. This ensures fewer disruptions, more timely interventions, and a welcome dose of clarity in an area that traditionally suffered from red tape and delays.
As Subu Kamal, Head of Product at TRL Software, explained: “We’re proud to support the Government of Malta with our iROADS platform, helping to create a more coordinated, transparent and citizen-centric road network. Our technology is designed to remove inefficiencies and empower infrastructure managers with the data they need to make faster, better decisions. Malta is now part of a growing group of forward-thinking nations transforming the way they manage roads.”
Reshaping mobility, one module at a time
TM Roads is the first in a suite of planned modules under Malta’s wider “Reshaping Our Mobility” initiative. This modular approach means the system can grow organically, integrating future functionalities like asset condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, and sustainability assessments.
Each module, when rolled out, slots seamlessly into the larger ecosystem, building towards a fully-fledged smart infrastructure management platform. For public authorities, this phased implementation offers a low-risk, high-reward way to embrace digital transformation.
Kurt Farrugia, CEO of Transport Malta, highlighted the citizen-first approach: “The platform will improve communication with the public while reducing inconvenience to residents by providing timely, accurate information about upcoming works and permits.”
Global proof of concept
This isn’t TRL Software’s first rodeo. The iROADS platform has already proven its worth across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In England, a variant of the system called P-AMS is being used by National Highways to manage the entire strategic road network. That’s no small feat.
This international track record demonstrates the platform’s scalability and adaptability. Whether it’s handling the intricacies of a sprawling megacity or a compact island nation like Malta, iROADS brings data, automation, and intelligence to the table.
“An important step in a wider chain of solutions we are working towards,” said Malta’s Transport Minister Dr Chris Bonett during the launch, reaffirming the government’s focus on future-ready infrastructure.
The nuts and bolts of iROADS
At its core, iROADS is designed to ingest and synthesise a broad range of data inputs – from field surveys to satellite data and IoT sensors – and then transform that information into actionable insights. The platform offers a single interface for planning, managing, and monitoring everything from pothole repairs to full-scale road renewals.
Some of the standout features of the iROADS platform include:
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Real-time monitoring: Keep tabs on road conditions, traffic impacts, and ongoing projects with live data streams.
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Smart permitting: Digitally manage roadwork permits, including stakeholder approvals and conflict resolution.
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Asset tracking: Create a digital twin of the road network to track usage, degradation, and maintenance schedules.
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Public dashboards: Share planned works and disruptions with citizens to improve transparency and trust.
All of this comes in a Software as a Service (SaaS) package, reducing the need for local hardware, slashing deployment times, and making updates a breeze.
A future paved with possibilities
While the TM Roads platform is currently focused on streamlining permitting processes, its potential goes much further. With additional modules, the platform can evolve into a fully integrated asset management powerhouse.
The system’s predictive capabilities could help identify road segments most likely to fail, allowing for timely interventions that save money and improve safety. Meanwhile, sustainability metrics could track carbon emissions from roadworks, helping governments align with broader climate goals.
This flexibility is what makes iROADS so compelling. It doesn’t just fix what’s broken; it anticipates future challenges and equips authorities with the tools to deal with them proactively.
Smart roads, smarter governance
Malta’s embrace of iROADS represents a turning point in how small island nations can approach transport infrastructure. By going digital, the country isn’t just keeping up with the times – it’s setting a precedent for agility, foresight, and collaboration.
As more municipalities and nations catch on, the broader implications become clear. Road networks of the future won’t just be asphalt and signs. They’ll be living, breathing systems, constantly feeding back data, self-improving, and serving people better.
With TRL Software at the helm, Malta’s journey down this smart road is only just beginning.
