AI is turning connected cars into pothole-finding machines

Potholes continue to be a significant challenge for urban areas, with companies like Lime identifying them as a substantial risk in their business models. Despite numerous technological advancements aimed at addressing this issue, potholes remain a persistent problem. However, with the proliferation of advanced sensors in vehicles, cars are now evolving into vital tools for municipalities, providing timely alerts about road conditions. Recently, Waymo and Waze initiated a pilot program designed to relay pothole information to local authorities. In a competitive response, Samsara, a fleet management company, has unveiled an innovative AI-driven solution dubbed "Ground Intelligence." For over ten years, Samsara has equipped trucks with cameras aimed at monitoring drivers, preventing theft, and assisting with liability claims. Leveraging this extensive data, the company has developed a model capable of identifying various pothole types and assessing their deterioration over time. Samsara's fleet of trucks is significantly more widespread than Waymo's robotaxi service, which comprises approximately 3,000 vehicles. This expansive network positions Samsara to gather a wealth of data, particularly from the same locations, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of how potholes evolve. The company has already secured a contract with Chicago, marking the beginning of what it hopes will be a series of valuable insights provided through Ground Intelligence. Beyond pothole detection, potential capabilities of the service include identifying graffiti, damaged guardrails, and low-hanging power lines—essentially anything pertinent to urban management, as noted by Samsara’s vice president of product, Johan Land. Traditionally, cities have had to dispatch workers or sift through numerous 311 calls to identify such issues. Samsara aims to streamline this process by leveraging the extensive number of commercial vehicles already equipped with its cameras, ensuring rapid and efficient data collection. Ground Intelligence operates through a user-friendly dashboard that highlights developing potholes and other urgent concerns on an interactive map. It also enables city officials to access anonymized footage from vehicle cameras to verify citizen reports regarding downed street signs, clogged drains, and other infrastructure issues. According to Land, this technology transforms a previously reactive maintenance approach into a proactive strategy. "Instead of merely addressing one pothole at a time, cities can now plan comprehensive repairs based on real-time data," he explained. In addition to pothole detection, Samsara is exploring further applications for its municipal surveillance network. Recently introduced products include Waste Intelligence, which assists waste management companies in verifying service completion, and a ridership management system designed to alert bus drivers to unexpected boarding situations.