Welcome back!
We are proud to share the second release of SETO (Smart Enforcement of Transport Operations) newsletter. In this issue, we will provide an overview of the current advancement of WP2 activities, as well as report on the presence of the SETO project in different conferences and other dissemination events. We will also present you one of the technical members of our Consortium, Mainflux Labs.
In the next issue, we will dive deeper into the project’s Living Lab activities, with a specific focus on the societal impact of SETO solutions and insights from the project’s recommendations. Stay tuned!
SETO is a project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme. The Newsletters’ Archive can be found at this link.
Smart Enforcement in Transport: How Technology is Improving Safety and Compliance
Ensuring that transport regulations are followed is crucial for road safety, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure protection. However, traditional enforcement methods such as random weigh station checks and manual inspections are often time-consuming, costly, and inconsistent. The Smart Enforcement of Transport Operations (SETO) project aims to change that by introducing advanced technologies that make enforcement smarter, faster, and more effective.
One of the biggest challenges in transport regulation is overloaded vehicles. Trucks carrying excess weight accelerate road and bridge deterioration, increasing maintenance costs and safety risks. While weight limits exist across Europe, enforcement remains difficult, i.e., static weigh stations are expensive to operate and cause delays for drivers. SETO addresses this by contributing to direct enforcement through Weight-in-Motion (WIM) solutions and onboard weighing systems, enabling efficient weight enforcement without disrupting traffic flow.
Another key issue is route compliance, as large vehicles often bypass restrictions meant to protect certain roads or urban areas. Enforcing these rules is challenging without reliable tracking. Additionally, vehicle condition and driving time regulations still rely heavily on manual checks, which are resource-intensive and lack cross-border coordination.
By leveraging sensors, GNSS, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms, SETO is transforming enforcement into a fairer, more automated system, reducing costs, improving safety, and minimizing road user delays.
SETO Featured in IWT Platform Launch
We are excited to announce that the IWT (Inland Waterway Transport) platform was officially launched on February 10, 2025. This new platform is a significant step forward in modernizing and digitizing the inland waterway sector across Europe.
SETO is proud to be featured on the IWT platform’s official website: iwtprojects.eu. Our work in smart enforcement and intelligent transportation systems continues to gain visibility and recognition across the broader transportation innovation community.
The IWT platform serves as a hub for showcasing innovative projects, sharing best practices, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders in the inland waterway ecosystem. SETO’s inclusion reflects our ongoing commitment to improving compliance, safety, and efficiency through data-driven enforcement and operational transparency.
SETO at Road Transport Research (RTR) 2025 and EUROSTRUCT 2025 Conferences
SETO was featured at the 2025 RTR Conference in Brussels, held from 11–13 February. Project coordinator Dr. Beatriz Martínez-Pastor presented an overview of the project, its current results, and its anticipated long-term impacts during the session on “Sustainable and resilient freight transport and long-haul logistics,” alongside fellow Horizon Europe projects. A recording of the session is available on YouTube.
Looking at the future, SETO is organising a special session at the upcoming EUROSTRUCT 2025 conference. The mini-symposium is entitled “Resilient Infrastructure through Smart Enforcement of Transport Operations”. Join us in Dublin between the 2 and 4 of September 2025!
Workshops: Journées Techniques Route (JTR) 2025 and Club Imagerie
In recent months, the SETO project has been actively presented at technical workshops. For instance, at the Club Imagerie 2025 workshop, the “Infrastructure et Adhérence” group from Cerema showcased SETO’s advanced enforcement methods for overloaded vehicles, including WIM systems and an AI-based camera solution for detecting lifted truck axles. Early results show improved vehicle classification and compliance.
At JTR 2025 in Nantes, Cerema, Université Gustave Eiffel, and ATLANDES introduced three detection approaches for lifted axles: inductive loops, camera-AI systems, and a combined method using multiple sensors for greater accuracy. Cerema also discussed the effects of heavier and larger trucks on road infrastructure and safety.
Partner Spotlight: Mainflux Labs
Mainflux Labs is a key technology partner within the SETO project. Specialising in open-source Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, edge computing, and secure data management, Mainflux Labs brings robust technical expertise to the project’s digital foundation. Their experience in developing scalable, interoperable, and secure solutions is critical for supporting smart enforcement across European transport systems.
Within SETO, Mainflux Labs leads Work Package 1 (WP1), which is dedicated to developing the project’s core digital platform. This platform will enable the secure collection, processing, and sharing of transport and enforcement data, facilitating authorities’ real-time intelligent decision-making.
