Cheswick turns to AI program to assess road conditions

Cheswick Council approved a contract that will enable the borough to scan its roads with AI-powered software to assess conditions and determine future projects.

The borough inked the $12,000, three-year contract with German software company Vialytics for its RoadAI scanning program. To perform the scans, borough workers will attach a modified phone to a vehicle. The phone rapidly photographs and evaluates roads, according to Cheswick Mayor Dan Carroll.

The mayor was impressed with the program, which, he said, will free up borough workers and allow road assessments that are “not subjective.”

“We’re very excited about having something new like this,” Carroll said. “It should be a good tool for the borough.”

In addition to identifying the severity of road damage, such as potholes, the AI also analyzes and categorizes street signs, manhole covers, curbs and sidewalks, Cheswick engineer Matt Pitsch said.

Using that information, he said, the AI can help budget and plan for repair projects in the future, and employees can place work orders directly through an app.

Eventually, Pitsch said, the public will be able to view this data on a map to see the condition of their street or alley.

“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 previously to TribLive. “This takes all the guesswork out of it. It’s data-driven.”

Vialytics partners with more than 600 municipalities worldwide, including Hempfield in Westmoreland County. Lower Burrell also agreed to partner with the company this year.

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

Crews will begin using the software in the coming months as the weather warms, Carroll said.