255 Cyclists Killed or Seriously injured by Potholes
Potholes are dangerous defects in roadways, which are serious safety hazards as well as the cause of significant disruption to travel and vehicle damage. In fact, Cycling UK highlights, that 255 cyclists in the UK were killed or seriously injured due to road defects in the past seven years, emphasising the severe impact these hazards have on public safety. However, the rise of advanced technology is offering a much-needed solution to the problem. In particular, AI-powered camera systems mounted on vehicles and stationary poles are revolutionising how potholes are detected, paving the way for faster, more efficient repairs and ultimately safer roads.
In this blog, we’ll explore the technology behind pothole detection, focusing on the role of smart cameras and stationary pole-based systems. We’ll examine how these innovations are reshaping the future of road maintenance and helping local authorities respond to potholes more effectively.
How a pothole develops
(a) Water Infiltration – Rainwater or melted snow seeps into cracks in the road surface. Over time, this moisture weakens the underlying base and soil, causing the cracks to expand.
(b) Freeze-Thaw Cycle – In colder weather, water trapped in the cracks freezes and expands. When it thaws, the cracks become even larger, further weakening the road structure.
(c) Structural Weakening – With repeated freeze-thaw cycles and water infiltration, the base beneath the road deteriorates, forming voids that reduce support and stability.
(d) Pothole Formation – As vehicles continue to pass over the weakened area, the surface crumbles, and the road eventually collapses, creating a pothole.
What Is Pothole Detection Technology?
Pothole detection traditionally relied on manual inspections or reports from drivers. While these methods were effective to some extent, they were slow and often missed smaller or newly-formed potholes. However, the use of AI-powered camera systems is significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of pothole detection and ultimately prevention.
The Role of Cameras in Pothole Detection
At the heart of modern pothole detection is the integration of high-resolution cameras, either mounted on vehicles or stationary poles along the roadside. These cameras continuously capture images and video of the road surface, providing a detailed, real-time view of the conditions as the camera system observes the road.
Cameras Mounted on Vehicles
- Capturing Road Conditions: The cameras on vehicles, typically installed at the front or rear, capture vast areas of the road as the vehicle moves along. These cameras use high-resolution imaging to detect even small cracks or potholes. In some cases, infrared cameras allow for detection in low-light or night conditions, improving the system’s utility around the clock.
- Real-Time Data Transmission: As the vehicle moves, it transmits the captured data to an onboard system or cloud infrastructure where the information can be processed immediately. This allows for rapid detection and reporting of potholes, reducing response times to repair issues.
- AI-Powered Analysis: The images captured by the cameras are analysed using AI algorithms. These systems are trained to recognise patterns in the road surface, distinguishing potholes from other types of road damage. With machine learning, these systems improve their accuracy over time as they process more data and refine detection algorithms.
In the vehicle-based system, AI processing is managed locally on the camera, enabling real-time detection of advanced-stage potholes. These potholes are immediately mapped for repair, ensuring prompt action on the most severe road defects. The system can also identify potholes in their early stages of formation, although some cases may be less clear-cut. In such borderline situations, where AI cannot definitively predict the development of a pothole, expert assessment is required.
To address this, the technical solution includes a Netcelero i-spi with a 5G or 4G SIM. The i-spi provides a secure connection to the camera, allowing engineers to remotely access the live camera feed. This enables experts to visually assess the site and decide whether preventative maintenance is necessary or if no further action is needed. By proactively addressing road deterioration at its earliest signs, authorities can reduce long-term infrastructure costs and prevent minor issues from escalating into major hazards.
As with many AI-driven projects, the combination of advanced technology and expert human analysis ensures the most accurate, efficient, and cost-effective approach to enhancing road safety.
Stationary Pole Systems
In addition to vehicle-mounted cameras, stationary pole systems are deployed in urban areas to monitor and detect potholes without needing a moving vehicle. These poles, equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, continuously monitor key traffic routes and provide 24/7 surveillance. Integrated with AI, the cameras analyse the captured data in real time, detecting potholes, cracks, and road wear while mapping their exact locations using GPS.
This approach offers a cost-effective solution for areas with lower traffic or hard-to-reach spots, while ensuring comprehensive coverage with minimal operating costs. The data collected can be integrated into infrastructure management systems, allowing local authorities to prioritise repairs and efficiently manage resources.
Why Cameras and AI Are the Perfect Match for Pothole Detection
The combination of high-resolution cameras and AI algorithms is particularly powerful because it offers both accuracy and efficiency.
Here’s why:
- Increased Coverage and Precision: Cameras, whether mounted on vehicles or stationary poles, can monitor vast areas and capture even small defects. High-definition imaging ensures that every crack, hole, or road imperfection is detected, reducing the risk of missing problems that could worsen over time.
- Faster, Real-Time Detection: With real-time data capture and AI analysis, potholes are detected much faster than with traditional methods. The instant alerts and data reporting allow local authorities to take action more quickly, preventing road conditions from deteriorating further.
- Cost-Effectiveness: AI-powered camera systems – both mobile and stationary – are more cost-effective than manual inspections. Stationary poles, in particular, minimise the need for expensive vehicle-based monitoring while providing consistent, round-the-clock surveillance.
- Accuracy and Reduced Human Error: AI-driven systems are highly accurate in detecting road damage, minimising the risk of human error. Whether it’s the vehicle-mounted camera or a stationary pole system, AI algorithms and the experts behind the cameras can spot even the smallest potholes, ensuring timely intervention before they escalate into larger issues.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: The real-time data generated from both mobile and stationary systems can be mapped and analysed, giving local authorities actionable insights. These insights help authorities prioritise repairs, allocate resources effectively, and plan long-term infrastructure improvements.
The Future of Pothole Detection
As technology continues to advance, we can expect even smarter and more efficient systems to emerge. The integration of AI-powered cameras on vehicles and stationary poles represents just the beginning of smarter road maintenance solutions.
- Predictive Maintenance: In the future, AI systems may not only detect existing potholes but also predict where potholes are likely to form. By analysing factors such as weather conditions, traffic patterns, and road material degradation, these systems can predict potential problem areas, allowing for preemptive action before a pothole even appears.
- Smart Cities and Interconnected Infrastructure: The role of camera-based pothole detection could expand further as cities integrate these systems into broader smart city frameworks. By connecting camera systems to a central infrastructure management system, local authorities can more efficiently deploy resources, improve road safety, and optimise maintenance efforts across the entire urban environment.
- Autonomous Repairs: In the future we may not only be able to detect potholes with the usage of technology, but repair them as well. A company called Robotiz3d is currently developing a robot that hopefully will be able to scan the roads for defects and efficiently fix them on their own.
Conclusion: Safer Roads Ahead
The integration of AI-powered camera systems – both vehicle-mounted and stationary pole-based – represents a major leap forward in road safety and maintenance. By enabling faster, more accurate detection and repair, these innovations are helping to minimise disruptions, reduce costs, and most importantly, improve overall road safety.
At Netcelero, we’re excited about the integral role that Netcelero software plays with advanced camera systems in transforming how we monitor and maintain infrastructure. With AI, cameras, and stationary poles working together, the future of pothole detection is brighter and more efficient than ever before, ensuring safer, smoother roads for all.
Key Takeaways:
- AI-powered camera systems, both mobile and stationary, are revolutionising pothole detection with real-time, accurate data.
- Stationary pole systems provide continuous, cost-effective monitoring, ensuring round-the-clock surveillance of key road areas.
- The future of pothole detection lies in predictive maintenance, interconnected smart city infrastructure and autonomous repairs.
If you’d like to learn more about how Netcelero solutions can simplify secure connectivity for your cameras and how AI solutions can enhance your infrastructure monitoring, contact us today!
