SCENIC Rim Council is using artificial intelligence to assess road networks and send feedback as to whether work is needed or not.
Scenic Rim Roads, Bridges and Paths Portfolio Councillor Virginia West said the data collected by cameras mounted on cars and Ebikes would help determine the timing and location of council's maintenance works.
“The data captured is displayed in an online mapping environment to show the condition of roads owned and maintained by Council," she said.
“This survey technology has been designed specifically for local government and uses AI to automatically identify and record high priority defects to help improve the safety of road users.”
This form of electronic survey is expected to provide an accurate picture of roads and footpaths that need to be prioritised for maintenance.
Council has engaged engineering company SHEPHERD to undertake the survey using their own Road Asset Condition Assessment System (RACAS) on both sealed and unsealed roads across the Scenic Rim.
RACAS captures high definition images every 10 metres, with GPS and roughness data electronically producing a condition rating of the pavement while RACAS AI software automatically logs any road defects.
Footpaths will also be inspected using cameras mounted on to an Ebike, this will enable repairs and maintenance works to be prioritised.
"As a priority of our Community Plan council is committed to delivering safe and accessible roads across our 1,750-kilometre local network," Cr West said.
“This technology takes the guesswork out of scheduling works programs and ensures we get the best value for money from our ongoing investment in our local road infrastructure."
No disruptions are anticipated as these survey vehicles take to the road.