RoadAI: St. Joseph plans new AI-powered technology to grade and improve streets

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- City leaders are eyeing the next generation of cutting-edge technology to help grade and improve the condition of St. Joseph's streets and roadways.

St. Joseph Public Works and Transportation is in the process of integrating new AI-powered software called Road AI, a type of specialized road maintenance software capable of detecting defects from cracking and fretting to edge deterioration and larger potholes.

“We're trying to advance everything in Public Works and AI is the big thing right now," St. Joseph Public Works and Transportation Director Abe Forney said. "This new technology will enhance the ability for our public works department to hit those potholes."

A $15,380 contract for the new technology is set to be introduced for first reading at Tuesday's City Council meeting and could be finalized later on Sept. 15.

The program operates by recording street surfaces using smartphones while an inspector drives the route. The video is uploaded nightly to a cloud-based AI program with condition ratings being available within hours.

Data is then exported to Excel and imported into Cartegraph -- an operations and asset management software platform -- for use in determining overlay lists, concrete repair lists and other maintenance priorities.

"It'll also give us sign inventory that we've never had. So it's looking at signs. It's looking at our road conditions. It's looking at crosswalks where they should be and bike trails that cross the road," Forney said. “This technology is going to continue to grow."

RoadAI's technology will sharply boost efficiency and enhance the long-held process of having a supervisor drive and document 440 lane miles of roadway in St. Joseph.

If approved by council, Forney expects the city will be able to quickly integrate the new software and have it deployed for staff usage in short order. The software is part of a subscription service offered through company Vaisala Inc.

“Taking one of our employees and driving all the roads and him writing on a piece of paper what our road conditions are ... this is going to be much better," Forney said. "This technology is going to free them up to do other things that need attention."

In the long run, he's optimistic the AI-powered technology will provide cost savings for the department and could grow in usage in other areas. RoadAI's website states the software is 50% less expensive that traditional road surveys.

The technology is one key part of the city's new five-year street master plan, a strategy designed to address top concerns identified in a community survey launched earlier this year.

"The survey that just came out said that our road conditions are in poor shape. We all know that some of our roads need some attention," Forney said. "There's so many things that are out there that we can utilize to better our public works department."