Gloucestershire is set to employ artificial intelligence technology to monitor the condition of its rural roads, addressing longstanding concerns about the lack of up-to-date data for unclassified roads.
At a recent Gloucestershire County Council cabinet meeting on June 18, Green Councillor Chloe Turner (Minchinhampton) questioned why no recent figures exist for the maintenance needs of unclassified roads—a significant portion of the county’s network. She stressed, “Why do we not have figures for the past two years for the percentage of unclassified roads where maintenance should be considered? When will we have data for this measure, as it is crucial for those of us with rural divisions?”
Responding to the query, Councillor Joe Harris (Liberal Democrat, Cirencester Park), who oversees the county’s highways, acknowledged the challenge. Traditionally, the condition of unclassified roads was measured every three years by a specialized scanning vehicle, aligned with Department for Transport (DfT) standards.
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However, following the removal of the reporting obligation and standard for unclassified roads assessment by the DfT in 2023, councils nationwide are collaborating with the department to develop an AI-powered camera assessment system. This innovative technology uses AI to analyze visual data from road networks, promising a more efficient and continual evaluation method.
The system is currently in development and is expected to be rolled out in 2026, providing much-needed insights to help maintain Gloucestershire’s extensive rural roadways effectively.