MELBOURNE, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- An artificial intelligence (AI)-powered road monitoring system has detected more than 300 defects across 1,000 km of roads in the Australian state of Victoria during a two-month trial, researchers said.
Researchers at Australia's RMIT University have partnered with the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, a motoring organization, to trial an innovative technology that could transform how roads are monitored for potholes and other infrastructure damage, according to a university statement released Monday.
As part of the "Pothole Patrol" pilot project, a sensor system was installed in a roadside assistance van operating six days a week on the Mornington Peninsula, south of the state capital Melbourne, to identify potholes and early signs of road deterioration, including cracking and rutting, in near real time, the statement said.
The sensor combines AI, satellite-based location data, video capture and vehicle movement data to identify and monitor road defects as the patrol travels its normal routes, it said, adding the project aims to improve road safety and cut maintenance costs through predictive and preventative maintenance.
The trial will continue until January 2027, with researchers working to improve the technology's accuracy and reliability and explore its deployment across larger vehicle fleets for more extensive road-condition monitoring across Australia, according to the RMIT team. ■
