West Sussex County Council is trialling new artificial intelligence technology aimed at making road inspections safer and more efficient.
The multi-year trial will see dashboard-mounted cameras installed in eight highway inspection vehicles operating across the county.
The cameras will automatically record road conditions and use AI to identify defects including potholes, cracking, surface deterioration and faded road markings.
At the moment, highway inspectors identify defects while driving their routes before stopping to take photographs and manually record information.
The council says this process can be time-consuming and can sometimes require inspectors to leave their vehicles on busy roads.
Under the new system, footage will be captured automatically and information about potential defects uploaded directly to the council’s highway asset management system, where inspectors will be able to review and validate the findings.
West Sussex County Council hopes the technology will reduce the amount of time inspectors spend on administrative work and allow them to cover more of the road network.
The trial will also look at whether the system can reduce repeat visits, speed up reporting and improve safety for inspectors.
Councillor Erika Woodhurst-Trueman, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, 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.”
The council says it will review the trial regularly to assess whether it is meeting its aims.
Potential environmental benefits will also be examined, including whether more efficient inspections could reduce unnecessary journeys and cut fuel use.
If successful, the technology could eventually play a wider role in helping the council maintain West Sussex’s road network and support proactive maintenance programmes.
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