West Sussex County Council is trialling new artificial intelligence (AI) technology that could help make highway inspections safer and more efficient.
The multi-year trial will see dashboard-mounted cameras installed in eight highway inspection vehicles across the county. The cameras automatically capture road conditions and use AI to identify defects such as potholes, cracking, surface deterioration and faded road markings.
Currently, highway inspectors identify defects while driving inspection routes, before stopping to photograph issues and manually record information.
This can be time-consuming and, in some cases, requires inspectors to leave their vehicles on busy roads.
The new technology aims to reduce the need for inspectors to stop and manually record defects. Instead, footage is automatically captured and defect information will be uploaded directly into the council's highway asset management system, Confirm, where inspectors can review and validate the findings.
By streamlining the inspection process, the council hopes the technology will allow inspectors to spend more time surveying the road network and supporting other operational activities while reducing administrative tasks.
Cllr Erika Woodhurst-Trueman, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at West Sussex County Council, said: "Improving our roads remains a key priority and this trial forms part of our wider Better Roads commitment.
"Alongside investment in repairs and resurfacing, we're exploring how new technology could help us work smarter, improve the information we collect and encourage more consistent and informed decision-making across our highways network.
"We're looking forward to seeing the results and understanding how this innovation could help us continue delivering better roads for residents."
As part of the trial, the council will assess a range of measures, including whether the technology can increase the number of miles inspected during each shift reduce repeat visits, improve the speed of reporting and enhance inspector safety.
The trial, which will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure it is delivering on its aims, will also explore potential environmental benefits, including reducing unnecessary journeys and lowering fuel use through more efficient inspection processes.
If successful, the technology could play an important role in helping the council maintain West Sussex's highways network by improving inspection coverage and consistency and supporting our programmes of proactive maintenance.
