Central Coast Council is working with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia NSW and ACT Division (IPWEA) to trial new technology using video footage and machine learning to deliver an automated assessment of road conditions.

The exciting new technology has the potential to deliver superior data whilst also saving time and money.

Council Director Roads Transport Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said the system is designed to be easily mounted to Council vehicles which are already driven across the road network on a regular basis.

“Our goal is to deliver thorough, regular and cost-effective assessments of our road network and this incredible new technology could see standard Council vehicles equipped to asses our roads,” Mr Bolgoff said.

“Video and machine learning is the future of road assessments and indicators suggest that the technology we are trialling could provide a safer and more cost-effective means for monitoring and assessing 2,200 kilometres of Central Coast roads.”

Council Administrator, Mr Dick Persson AM said it is Council’s responsibility to explore and utilise the most effective techniques for maintaining and developing the local road network.

“The Central Coast is an expansive region with an extensive road roadwork and it is exciting to be exploring a technology that offers the potential to provide us with better data in a more cost-effective way.”

IPWEA is also working with Canterbury Bankstown, Georges River and Blayney Councils for the trial and there is no direct cost to Central Coast Council to participate.

The evaluation of the trial will be released at the IPWEA state conference, at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley from Tuesday, 23 March until Thursday, 25 March 2021.