Councils in regional New South Wales and south-west Sydney have been selected to trial a new machine-learning program which – through cameras mounted on street sweeping vehicles – is expected to make road maintenance faster and more cost effective.
Designed and built in New South Wales by Deloitte, Asset AI software will highlight and eventually predict critical safety issues like damaged signage, faded line markings, potholes and rutting, and escalate them based on severity and safety risk to council maintenance planners.
As it develops over time, the artificial intelligence software will draw on weather data and learn to predict issues like potholes or cracks before they even form.
The New South Wales Government is backing the next phase of the Asset AI pilot project as preventative road maintenance can slash costs for councils by reducing the reliance on time-consuming and costly road audits, while also extending the lifespan of asphalt and bitumen roads through timely intervention.
Traditionally, councils carry out road audits every three to five years, but Asset AI has the potential to deliver a snapshot of the condition of the state’s local road network every fortnight in future.
Canterbury-Bankstown and Griffith have been chosen for the trial to ensure the platform meets the needs of both regional New South Wales and metropolitan areas.
An earlier phase of the pilot used Transport for NSW vehicles.
Based on the success of data capture in Griffith and Canterbury-Bankstown, the technology could be rolled out to more councils from 2024.
Asset AI received a $2.9 million funding co-contribution through the State Government’s Smart Places Acceleration Program, a special reservation under the Digital Restart Fund.
Other councils that have expressed interest in being involved in the development of Asset AI, as it progresses, include Georges River, Blayney, Central Coast, Liverpool, Wingecarribee, Warren Shire, Liverpool Plains, Tamworth, Wollongong, Murray River, and Shoalhaven.
New South Wales Minister for Roads, John Graham, said keeping roads safe and in good condition are some of the biggest challenges for local councils.
“This platform will help cut costs, accelerate maintenance and prioritise safety,” Mr Graham said.
“The data to fuel the machine-learning will be gathered from Canterbury-Bankstown and Griffith so that we are sure the software meets the needs of regional and metropolitan councils in New South Wales.
“One of the most exciting aspects is that the system will begin to draw on weather data and learn to predict issues like potholes or cracks before they form and help councils prioritise repairs based on potential future risk.
“This will keep New South Wales at the forefront of technology-led solutions to what are some of the most essential services for all communities. No one wants to see potholes on the roads and this could be part of seeing fewer of them in future.”
New South Wales Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison, said regional councils have large sprawling road networks that are built differently to city roads and can be particularly challenging to audit and maintain.
“Last year’s extreme rainfall highlighted the battle regional councils face tracking and prioritising work in the wake of natural disasters. With this platform they can get a snapshot within a day of what has been impacted, as well as a recommendation of where to send crews first,” Ms Aitchison said.
Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia NSW & ACT CEO, David Elliott, said the introduction of Asset AI represents a massive leap forward in how roads are managed and maintained in New South Wales.
“This initiative will significantly reduce the time and cost associated with traditional road audits, freeing up valuable resources for councils across the state. It’s a game-changer for the way road maintenance will be approached.”
Canterbury-Bankstown Council Mayor, Bilal El-Hayek, said the City of Canterbury-Bankstown is pleased to be the first metropolitan Council involved in the initial trial and Council will now install cameras on its street sweepers.
“This new technology will help inform the program of works to manage the conditions of the road network more effectively.”
While the New South Wales Government’s investment in road maintenance is an interesting venture, it raises serious questions about the allocation of public funds. There are already private-sector solutions that offer similar, if not superior, capabilities for assessing and managing road health efficiently. The $3 million+ spent on this pilot project could and should have been directly invested in actual road improvements, delivering immediate benefits to taxpayers. How many potholes can $3 million+ fix? Answer: ALOT.
Government’s role lies in governance and policy-making, not in technology development. A better approach would have been to collaborate with existing private-sector solutions to achieve the desired outcomes more efficiently and better use tax payer’s money.