Cheswick considers AI programming to assess street conditions

Cheswick might turn to advanced technology when assessing its streets and roads.

Council in April will consider a contract with New Jersey-based Vialytics for its RoadAI road-scanning program. The three-year cost would total $12,000.

“We wanted to have a neutral third party scan our streets and give us a true picture of the conditions of our roads,” said council President Brad Yaksich. “I’d like to have a graded system of our streets and see what condition they’re in. I think this is a more fair way of looking at it.”

According to engineer Matt Pitsch, Vialytics’ system is an app that photographs the road every 10 feet, and the devices come with GPS tracking and timestamps. Its artificial intelligence can identify 15 types of road damage and issues with traffic signs, manhole covers and other problems.

“A lot of times, (officials) get asked, ‘Why’d you pave that road?’ or get accusations of favoritism with what roads are paved,” Pitsch said. “This takes all the guesswork out of it. It’s data-driven.”

Vialytics partners with more than 500 municipalities worldwide, including Hempfield in Westmoreland County. Lower Burrell and Springdale Township have expressed interest in learning more about the program, Pitsch said.

Pitsch is also the engineer for Verona, which had used a similar program.

“It helps us on the council and engineering side to look at what roads need paved for budgeting,” Pitsch said. “In Verona, we found we were in pretty good shape with what we were budgeting. It helps with the future planning process as well.”

AI analyzes the field data, and a person at the company reviews that information for quality control before providing it to the municipality, Pitsch said.

“The app is definitely a time-saving mechanism,” Pitsch said. “I think it’s a good use. I think it aids us, and through it, we have more information.”

If Cheswick moves forward with the contract, equipment would be sent to the borough’s public works crew, who would drive each street with the software to analyze the roads.

That equipment also would sync with the borough’s Geographic Information System, Yaksich said.

“It gives us an algorithm of what our streets look like,” he said.

Cheswick has about 6.4 miles of local roads, 1.2 miles of state roads and just over 1.5 miles’ worth of alleys, Yaksich said. In the winter, Cheswick is responsible for maintaining 9 miles of road.

“The AI scan would greatly help us to budget,” Yaksich said. “Once we know the conditions of the roads, we can set our priorities and determine the best way to pay for it.”

Results from the street survey would better guide officials for future projects and paving.

Yaksich said if the plan is approved by council, he’d hope to have results from Vialytics by the fall so the borough can begin budgeting for projects next year.