Hertfordshire County Council: AI road maintenance robot

After four years of collaboration, Hertfordshire County Council, technology company Robotiz3d and academics at the University of Liverpool have successfully developed an innovative AI-powered solution for road maintenance. This partnership combines Robotiz3d's expertise in AI and robotics with the Council's knowledge of managing highway assets. Their collaborative goal was to create an innovative system for identifying and repairing road defects, focussing on cracks that become potholes. 

The project stemmed from Robotiz3d's initial technology, ARRES (Autonomous Road Repair System) Eye, used for road scanning. This technology is used within the ARRES Prevent robot, initially backed, and funded by Innovate UK. The robotic technology can autonomously detect and fix road cracks, preventing them from becoming potholes.  

The robot uses AI to pinpoint and assess cracks, potholes and other road imperfections. It then automatically fills cracks to prevent water from seeping in and forming potholes. More than 75 per cent of cracks in the road surface become potholes within three years, so they are a major problem for the whole sector. 

The pilot project aimed to achieve two things: Firstly, to conduct the world's first public road trial of the technology in Hertfordshire. Secondly, to garner positive publicity and showcase the Council's commitment to innovation and proactive solutions for potholes and road maintenance, a major concern for residents. 

Robotiz3d developed the proprietary ARRES Eye scanning technology and the prototype ARRES Prevent robot. The AI model powering this technology was trained on vast datasets, including detailed scans of Hertfordshire's road network. The council collaborated with Robotiz3d to improve the system's accuracy. The project team scanned various roads around Hertfordshire, which significantly increased the technology’s pothole identification accuracy from 66 per cent to 100 per cent. The model also learned to recognise new road features and defects it hadn't encountered before. 

To optimise the AI model and robot's functionality for real-world use, Hertfordshire County Council closely collaborated with Robotiz3d. The Council provided valuable data from their road network and expertise from their highways asset management professionals. This joint effort allowed for iterative refinements to the AI model and robot based on the team's feedback and insights. This ensured the AI-powered robot was fully prepared for real-world testing.

The Council involved key stakeholders early on to facilitate real-world testing and ensure buy-in. Ringway, the Council's maintenance contractor, played a critical role by providing expertise on health and safety at the test sites. Elected members were also informed and engaged at the project's outset, fostering awareness about the Council's use of AI and generating enthusiasm among staff. Their positive feedback further bolstered the project's momentum.

The Council's communications team took a proactive approach as the project progressed, securing positive media coverage. This included a feature on BBC One's The One Show, which significantly increased public interest, both locally and nationally. Council members were also given opportunities to speak on various news channels, highlighting Hertfordshire's innovative approach to road maintenance and the potential benefits for drivers. The communications team actively monitored and responded to public queries and comments on social media, where organic posts reached 125,000 people, with over 31,000 views of a TikTok video, maintaining transparent and timely communication with the community.

The Hertfordshire County Council and Robotiz3d partnership has fostered mutual learning throughout the project. Robotiz3d gained crucial real-world insights. This includes the logistics of robotics deployment (transport, storage) and integrating with existing maintenance practices. Hertfordshire, in turn, shaped the pioneering technology by offering asset management expertise and feedback to refine AI models and robot functions. This "learn by doing" approach tackles the challenges of implementing cutting-edge tech in complex environments. The initial pilot has fixed a small number of cracks and Hertfordshire engineers will be reviewing the long-term benefits of the repair. 

The project's initial impact is undeniable. The world-first trial announcement garnered significant media attention, with over 100 outlets reaching an estimated audience of 2 billion globally. This showcased the Council's commitment to innovation and technological advancement for its residents. 

Beyond PR, this AI technology holds immense potential for cost and time savings in road maintenance. By enabling early intervention on cracks before they worsen, the technology prevents the need for expensive repairs later. This proactive approach has the potential to significantly reduce lifecycle costs associated with road infrastructure.

While personal data isn't involved, governance is still important for managing risks to workers and managing road closures during the operation. Hertfordshire County Council and Ringway leverages their existing, robust site risk assessments for highway work. They are in the process of developing a specific protocol for the robot's safe interaction with human crews.

The inherent risks of roadwork necessitate a focus on safety. This AI-powered robot has the potential to significantly reduce worker exposure to danger while supporting a critical council service.

Resident and road user safety remains paramount throughout the pilot. The Council's existing risk assessments, though rigorous, are constantly reviewed. As the robot's use evolves, potential new risks will be identified, and the assessments will be adapted accordingly.

The Hertfordshire trials hold promise for addressing the UK's staggering £16 billion road repair backlog. This AI-powered robotic technology offers a potential solution to bridge the gap in road maintenance. By successfully demonstrating its effectiveness, Hertfordshire paves the way for wider adoption across the country.

The project's true return on investment (ROI) will unfold over time. As the technology evolves based on Hertfordshire's lessons learned, cost savings and operational benefits are expected to multiply. The AI will become more sophisticated and efficient, further enhancing its value. 

Hertfordshire plans further tests to refine robot usage and develop county-wide deployment strategies. This will ultimately lead to significant improvements in road quality across the region.