Autonomous Drones for Traffic Monitoring

Project Background

As part of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge replacement project, Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA) required improved real-time visibility across a highly sensitive section of the metropolitan road network.

With major traffic disruptions, detours, and changing road conditions expected throughout the construction period, operations teams needed a faster and safer way to assess congestion, verify incidents, and monitor network performance without deploying additional personnel into active traffic environments.

To support these operations, Sensorem deployed its autonomous Drone-in-a-Box (DiaB) capability, providing MRWA with on-demand aerial visibility streamed directly into the Main Roads Network Operations Centre.

This deployment represents one of the first operational uses of remotely operated Drone-in-a-Box traffic monitoring technology within a live metropolitan road network environment in Western Australia.

Challenges

Delivering autonomous BVLOS operations within one of Perth’s busiest transport and maritime corridors required extensive planning and stakeholder collaboration. The operational environment included controlled airspace considerations, active port operations, tower cranes, changing construction activities, surrounding infrastructure and multiple organisations operating within the same area.

Working closely with CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority), Main Roads WA, Fremantle Ports and the project alliance, Sensorem developed a compliant operational framework that safely integrated autonomous drone operations into this highly dynamic environment.

The operation was conducted under specialised CASA approvals, including Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and Operations Over or Near People (OONP), supported by an integrated parachute recovery system that provided an additional layer of operational safety when flying within the urban environment. The result demonstrates that Drone-in-a-Box technology can be successfully deployed in complex metropolitan environments where safety, regulatory compliance and operational reliability are paramount.

The Sensorem’s Solution

Sensorem deployed its ‘SensHub Infinity’ Drone-in-a-Box system at the Fremantle Traffic Bridge precinct to provide rapid aerial situational awareness across the bridge, surrounding roads, and key intersections. The system is remotely operated by CASA-approved BVLOS pilots from Sensorem’s 24/7 Remote Operations Centre (ROC) located in Subiaco, Western Australia.

When requested, the drone can be airborne within minutes, providing live aerial video directly into Main Roads’ operational environment to support traffic management and incident response activities in real time. Unlike traditional traffic monitoring methods that rely on fixed camera infrastructure or deploying crews into the field, the autonomous drone system provides a flexible aerial perspective exactly when and where it is needed.

The deployment also incorporates a dual-drone operational model, allowing one aircraft to automatically replace the other during charging cycles. This significantly increases operational availability and enables extended aerial overwatch during critical traffic management periods.

Key Operational Features:

• Real-time aerial visibility of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge and surrounding road network
• Live video streamed directly into the Main Roads Network Operations Centre (NOC)
• Remote operations conducted by CASA-approved BVLOS pilots
• Rapid launch capability for time-critical traffic events and incidents
• Autonomous pre-programmed flight paths and remote tasking capability
• Dual-drone system enabling extended operational availability
• 24/7 monitored operational support through Sensorem’s Remote Operations Centre
• Integrated parachute recovery system providing additional operational safety redundancy

Operational Outcomes

The deployment provides Main Roads WA with an additional layer of operational awareness during one of the state’s most significant transport infrastructure projects.

By integrating live aerial visibility into existing operational workflows, MRWA teams can:

• Assess congestion and traffic flow in real time
• Verify incidents faster and with greater situational awareness
• Reduce the need to deploy personnel into active traffic environments
• Improve response coordination during changing road conditions
• Access flexible aerial coverage beyond fixed camera infrastructure

The project demonstrates how autonomous drone operations can support smarter, more connected transport infrastructure and improve operational decision-making across complex road networks.

For more information contact info@sensorem.com.au