Synaptiv has recently appointed Redtail Telematics to provide local councils with black box data to help them combat potholes.
Synaptiv is a connected car platform. Using data from systems like Redtail, which are embedded in the vehicle, the team employ AItechniques to generate smart city insights which can be used on a wider scale.
In this instance, the data will be collected from devices that are fitted to vehicles throughout the UK and can be used to assess the road surface.
The Synaptiv solution negates the need to employ inspectors or use specialist equipment to survey the roads and assess damaged locations. By monitoring defects as they appear problematic areas can be repaired before they deteriorate and become a risk to drivers.
Commenting on the relationship between Redtail Telematics and Synapitiv, Dr Colin Smithers, chief executive officer at Redtail, said ‘Our telematics devices and robust data capture technology ensures that Synaptiv has the most reliable technology to help support their ongoing initiatives with local councils, and to reduce the cost and manpower when it comes to addressing the plague of UK roads, the pothole.’
One of the more innovative aspects of the Redtail technology is that the system’s analytics can make predictions about the deterioration rate of road defects. Again, not only does this highlight which areas have problems but also helps local councils to prioritise their repair schedules.
Matt Lewis, CEO at Synaptiv, said: “Working with Redtail has allowed us to accelerate the development of our artificial intelligence algorithms…’
He also stated, ‘It is exciting to see our innovation help local authorities start delivering on the promise of the smart city, with data-driven insights dramatically improving public services and enhancing the quality of life for citizens.’
As more data is collected by the Redtail Telematic devices, it is hoped that a clearer picture of the state of the UK roads can be drawn. By having a fact driven foundation to build upon, local councils will then be in the position to prioritise areas where work is needed. Not only will they be saving time and money, but also helping to prevent drivers from being put at unnecessary risk.
