Regional council unveils AI weapon to tackle plague of potholes
A regional Victorian council is the first in the state to use AI camera technology to identify and measure the potholes plaguing local roads as part of a program it claims will save money.
The City of Greater Geelong in Victoria, Australia, has become the first council in the state to employ artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify and measure potholes on local roads, according to a recent announcement. The pioneering program involves two street sweeper trucks equipped with AI and smart cameras that photograph potholes as the vehicles travel over them, transmitting the images and precise measurements to road crews.
This enables crews to calculate the materials required for repairs and prioritize small potholes before they become larger and more costly to fix. Since August 2025, the project has detected 1,600 potholes, with Mayor Stretch Kontelj stating that the $7,000 initiative will ultimately save the council money by enabling early intervention.
The AI technology provides detailed information about each pothole's dimensions, depth, and ideal repair materials, allowing for more cost-effective responses. Greater Geelong also hopes to extend the technology to other vehicles, such as garbage trucks, and to detect other road issues, including faded line markings or missing drain lids.
City of Greater Geelong senior analyst Alexander Hardiman praised the innovative use of AI to improve service provision, while CEO Ali Wastie noted that the technology has helped the council fix over 5,300 potholes in the past financial year, enabling better planning and response to repairs.
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