The United Services Union has recently become aware of a Transport for NSW (TfNSW) led project in partnership with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) NSW, called Asset AI®.
The Asset AI® project uses a combination of dash-mounted cameras on Council vehicles and sensors to detect, log – and eventually predict – critical road defect issues like damaged signs, faded line markings, potholes and rutting, and escalate them based on severity and safety risk, to Council asset maintenance teams.
The platform uses the IPWEA NSW and ACT risk-based defect priority scoring system to help maintenance crews ensure they address the most critical defects first, reducing the overall risk to road users and the community.
The application allows Councils to easily see the location of each issue detected by Asset AI®, pull up images and severity ratings for defects, and receive an overall rating of the condition of the road network. Shoalhaven City and Warren Shire councils have just joined the project and are now feeding data into the platform and receiving updates through the system.
Councils ready to be onboarded in 2024 include Liverpool Plains Shire and Mid Coast. Another 48 local Councils across NSW have also expressed an interest in joining the project. Asset AI® received a $2.9 million funding co-contribution through the NSW Government’s Smart Places Acceleration Program, a special reservation under the Digital Restart Fund.
We need your help
The USU is extremely concerned about the use of artificial intelligence and is seeking to speak to anyone that has any exposure with any of the trials that have been conducted. We are after further information from people who have had some experience with it. The type of information we are after includes but is not limited to:
- Type of devices used?
- Does it record voice?
- Can it monitor such things as speed, braking, harsh cornering etc.?
Please contact the Roads Maintenance and Construction Vocational Group convener at jmckinnon@usu.org.au to provide details.
