Inverell Shire Council has invested in an artificial intelligence-driven road inspection system to improve the efficiency and accuracy of defect detection across the Shire’s extensive road network.
Council is responsible for managing 2,254 kilometres of roads across an area of more than 9,400 square kilometres.
Road infrastructure is one of the community’s most critical public assets.
The technology is expected to streamline inspection processes, support more proactive maintenance and improve safety outcomes for road users.
Following an assessment of available systems, Council has acquired the Road Vision Pro platform, supplied by Retina Visions, for a 12-month trial at a cost of $30,000 funded within the existing asset management budget.
The AI-powered road inspection and asset intelligence platform, uses vehicle-mounted hardware to automatically detect road defects, assess road condition and assist with determining maintenance priorities.
The system operates continuously when a vehicle is in use, enabling ongoing monitoring without disrupting other staff activities.
Mayor Cr Kate Dight said the investment reflected Council’s commitment to using practical technology to better manage local infrastructure and improve community safety.
Mayor Dight stated, “By automating road inspections with this technology, Council will be better placed to identify defects earlier, plan maintenance more effectively and make informed decisions about how we manage our road assets”.
In addition to identifying defects on sealed and unsealed roads, the system can also detect issues affecting other infrastructure such as signage, line-marking and footpaths.
It is also expected to assist disaster recovery processes by capturing pre and post-event asset conditions to support disaster recovery funding claims. The hardware can be easily transferable from different vehicles and even carried by staff.
Council aims to have the system operational by July 2026. A report will be delivered to Council following the trial period, detailing the systems performance and its operational fit for the organisation.
Media Release: Inverell Shire Council
