Geelong deploys AI cameras to detect potholes

The City of Greater Geelong is rolling out AI and smart cameras on two street sweeper trucks to identify and measure potholes. The council says it is the first in Victoria to use the technology. A $7,000 trial operating since August 2025 detected 1,600 potholes.

The cameras photograph potholes as vehicles pass over them, sending images, locations and width and depth measurements to road crews. That information helps workers plan repairs and calculate the materials required. Mayor Stretch Kontelj said detecting damage while holes remain small would prevent more expensive repairs and save money over the program’s life.

The council hopes to extend the system to garbage trucks and other municipal vehicles. It also wants to explore detecting faulty road signs, faded line markings, roadside rubbish, hazards and missing drain lids. Chief executive Ali Wastie said the city repaired more than 5,300 potholes last financial year, and better location data would help crews plan and respond while freeing resources for other services.