Department of Transport uses AI to repair roads

The Department for Transport has invested £2M into using artificial intelligence for the mapping of British local road markings, sections of the National Cycle Network, and the country’s footways it was announced on Saturday 20^th July 2019.

According to the announcement the investment will be used for the national examination of road markings which will involve the analysis of the quality of nearly 100,000 miles of road to create a clearer-than-ever picture of where investment is most required.

The information that is compiled will then be used to advise local councils on where investment will be most useful and shall likewise be utilised to improve the user safety of some of the country’s busiest roads.

The Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling stated: “Road markings play a vital role in keeping everyone who is using the road safe, so making sure they’re up to standard is imperative.

“This funding will allow for advanced AI learning technology to assess the condition of the markings to improve the safety of our roads for all users.”

The Department of Transport will carry out the road markings examination in conjunction with the Local Conditions Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) which will in turn employ the services of Gaist, an SME based in North Yorkshire which specialises in artificial intelligence technology.

The Managing Director of Gaist, Paula Claytonsmith added: “We are using over 146 million HD road images from our national databank and cutting-edge AI technology to assess over 96,000 miles of classified roads as part of this project.

“This is the largest exercise in assessing road marking readiness ever undertaken in England. Gaist are proud to have the AI capability that puts an SME UK business at the forefront of technological advances.”

Reports of poor road markings have been increasing drastically in recent times due to the presence of ‘ghost markings’ as a consequence of developments on existing roads, as well as general road deterioration.

This announcement arrives at the same time that bids open over the next 4 year for £348M worth of funding to revitalise British roads, through the Challenge Fund and Pinch Point fund.

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