PSI - Issue 84

Marco Bisti et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 84 (2026) 733–740

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6. Technological innovation: How new solutions can develop higher SMS Maturity Technological innovation plays a decisive and transformative role in advancing Safety Management Systems (SMS) from reactive compliance to predictive excellence, which is the desired apex of the ANSFISA SGS-ISA maturity model. In many virtuous operational realities, improvements based solely on systemic and procedural changes tend to reach an asymptote, beyond which it is not possible to push further without new technological capabilities. Therefore, to achieve the maximum performance standards set by the ANSFISA Guidelines, technology must open up new, previously unthinkable possibilities, ensuring ever-higher safety standards. Key technological drivers include the widespread adoption of real-time cooperative systems such as Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) (see Fig.3) communication, which allows vehicles to interact instantaneously with the infrastructure, traffic signals, and other vehicles.

Fig. 2. Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Communication.

This enables dynamic traffic management, immediate hazard warnings, and optimized routing, significantly reducing human error and reaction times. A tangible example of this innovation in construction site management is the implementation of a system for monitoring vehicle-to-vehicle separation in zones subject to high heavy vehicle traffic and operational instability, with the objective of reducing Near-Misses. This mitigation can be achieved through two complementary modes: an infrastructural solution, which involves the installation of fixed sensors (radar, lidar, stereoscopic cameras) on portals at strategic points near construction sites to measure inter-vehicle distances and approach speeds, providing a view independent of the individual vehicle's equipment; and a vehicle dependent (cooperative/V2X) solution, which uses on-board sensors (ADAS) to collect and transmit data via low latency 5G network, constructing a cooperative ecosystem capable of identifying immediate risk situations. Furthermore, the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics allows for the processing of vast datasets — including those from smart sensors, dynamic weighing systems, and historical Near-Miss data — to build highly accurate predictive risk models. These models identify emerging danger patterns before an accident occurs, facilitating proactive resource allocation and intervention. Through the deployment of these technologies, the Infrastructure Manager (IM) can transition from a control model based on periodic audits to one founded on continuous monitoring and Organizational Resilience. This evolution elevates the SMS's maturity by systematically embedding predictive capabilities, objective measurement tools, and integrated systems (man, machine, environment) into core operational processes, fundamentally transforming safety governance into a digitally supported, data-driven, and highly adaptive practice.