TRL iROADS is Reinventing Climate-Resilient Road Management in Kerala
In the humid, monsoon-lashed state of Kerala, where roads snake through forests, coastal plains and bustling tourist towns, a silent transformation is underway. Faced with the crippling impacts of climate change, Kerala has stepped forward with a bold digital solution that could serve as a model for regions across the globe.
At the heart of this movement is TRL Software’s iROADS platform, recently honoured with the 2025 IRF Global Road Achievement Award for Climate Resilience and Adaptation. Presented at a prestigious International Road Federation (IRF) ceremony in Athens on 30th June, the accolade recognises how iROADS is bolstering the resilience of one of India’s most densely paved states.
With over 332,000 kilometres of road to maintain, Kerala is no stranger to logistical and environmental complexity. Yet iROADS is shifting the paradigm, helping to make the region’s vast road network smarter, safer and more sustainable.
A State Under Climate Siege
Kerala’s road infrastructure, though extensive and well-connected, has been increasingly overwhelmed by climate shocks. In a particularly severe monsoon season, the state recorded over 4,700 landslides. These weren’t isolated incidents; they exposed deeper systemic weaknesses: lack of integrated climate data, disjointed maintenance prioritisation, and insufficient public engagement.
Budget allocations were often scattergun. Without the necessary tools to assess risks or monitor asset conditions in real time, Kerala’s Public Works Department (PWD) struggled to keep up. Meanwhile, road users were left in the lurch, with limited ways to report issues or participate in planning.
Smarter Infrastructure, Real-Time Insights
That’s where iROADS stepped in. TRL Software’s cloud-based asset management system, deployed as part of the World Bank-backed Kerala State Transport Project Phase II (KSTP-II), delivered more than just a software solution. It introduced a new mindset.
iROADS seamlessly combines geospatial data, asset condition monitoring, and environmental risk mapping. By feeding climate data directly into the platform, it enables smarter road maintenance strategies and anticipatory budgeting. The result? A proactive, not reactive, approach to infrastructure management.
“The Kerala iROADS project demonstrates how digital innovation and local collaboration can deliver scalable, climate-resilient infrastructure solutions” said Subu Kamal, TRL Software’s Head of Product. “It has been a privilege to work alongside the progressive Kerala Public Works Department, whose vision and commitment to sustainable development have been key to the project’s success. iROADS is more than a platform, it’s a catalyst for safer, smarter and more sustainable road networks.”
Empowering Citizens and Engineers Alike
One of iROADS’ standout features is its accessibility. Road users aren’t side-lined; they’re brought into the loop. Through user-friendly interfaces, citizens can now report road issues directly, creating a feedback loop that’s transparent and effective. This democratisation of infrastructure planning is a significant step forward in public sector digital transformation.
For engineers and planners, the system offers a comprehensive view of road conditions and performance indicators. That means data-backed decisions on where to invest, when to intervene, and how to respond to changing environmental conditions. In a state as topographically and climatically diverse as Kerala, such granularity is crucial.
Global Significance and Local Inspiration
Kerala’s success with iROADS doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Around the world, transport networks are grappling with extreme weather, swelling maintenance costs, and pressure to decarbonise. The iROADS platform has already shown its ability to cross borders.
A version of the system, known as P-AMS, is currently in use by National Highways in England to manage the UK’s strategic road network. Meanwhile, TRL Software is expanding the model further, recently delivering a digital pavement asset management system in Malta under the name TM Roads.
These rollouts demonstrate that iROADS is no one-trick pony. It’s a modular platform that adapts to the needs of national authorities and local councils alike. Whether deployed in a subtropical state like Kerala or an island nation like Malta, it proves its worth in managing risk, optimising budgets and responding to environmental realities.
Backing from the International Road Federation
Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, the International Road Federation (IRF) has long championed innovation in global road infrastructure. Representing leading organisations across the road and mobility sectors, the IRF’s mission is clear: to foster safe, accessible, and sustainable mobility for all.
Their annual Global Road Achievement Awards recognise trailblazers in the sector, and the Climate Resilience and Adaptation category speaks directly to today’s most pressing challenge. TRL Software’s win reflects not just technological prowess, but alignment with global priorities around resilience and sustainability.
Through initiatives like knowledge sharing, policy engagement, and technical training, the IRF continues to connect change-makers and support forward-thinking transport strategies. TRL’s award is a testament to what’s possible when public institutions, private innovation, and international support align.
Replicating Success at Scale
As more regions grapple with the twin imperatives of climate resilience and digital transformation, the Kerala model offers a beacon. iROADS has not only enhanced the state’s ability to prepare for and respond to climate impacts, but it’s done so in a way that’s scalable and replicable.
Transport departments in developing and developed nations alike can take inspiration from this blend of cutting-edge software, local insight, and global collaboration. With the cost of climate inaction rising, digital solutions like iROADS are no longer optional extras; they’re essential infrastructure.
Paving the Way to a Resilient Future
Kerala’s journey with iROADS is more than just a tech success story. It’s a powerful case of how innovation, when matched with political will and community engagement, can create infrastructure that’s truly fit for the future.
As the world’s roads continue to buckle under the strain of a changing climate, scalable tools like iROADS offer a roadmap to resilience. They turn data into decisions, citizens into stakeholders, and crisis into opportunity.
In the words of TRL’s Subu Kamal: “iROADS is not just a platform. It’s a catalyst.” The award may have Kerala’s name on it, but its legacy could be global.
