RoadTek has been progressively deploying a new technology referred to as “Autonomous Defect Logging” across the state’s Operational areas between August 2023 and March 2024.
The technology involves the installation of a mobile phone to the inside of road inspector’s windscreens where continual still images are taken at predetermined frames per second. The images are placed in folders and sent to the cloud where computer models are overlaid to automatically detect roadway defects.
The technology can detect pavement defects such as potholes and crocodile cracking, broken or deformed guideposts and barriers, deformed or faded signage, litter and debris, roadkill and overhanging vegetation and much more.
The defect images are sent to RoadTek’s bespoke Asset Management and Maintenance System where inspectors can group, download, approve or reject them. The details of approved defects are reviewed and prioritised for remediation by RoadTek’s maintenance crews.
Prior to the deployment of the new technology, a majority of roadway defects were identified manually by inspectors who take still images as part of the maintenance backlog process. The technology is reducing the time our inspectors spend out of their vehicles, thus delivering safety and efficiency benefits for our people.
Other business units are also deriving benefits for the technology’s outputs including Infrastructure Management and Delivery’s Environment Team who can now access real time data for roadkill on all of the state managed roads.
