Asset AI® aims to support the creation of smart places by using artificial intelligence to help governments make better decisions about managing their public assets. Artificial intelligence can provide detailed assessments of transport network assets like roads, bridges, and rail tracks, in a timely and efficient manner. Frequent and widespread collection of data throughout local government areas can provide clear visibility of infrastructure damage that could potentially pose a risk to people.
Environmentally, Asset AI® proposes to minimise the carbon footprint of councils by retrofitting their vehicles to detect and predict damaged road infrastructure. The program is designed to assist in the roll-out of the Asset AI® platform across all NSW local government areas. This scalability promises to enable early and timely detection of degraded road asset conditions across the whole state. As a result, it will mitigate risks to public safety posed by transport infrastructure that has been degraded, as well as the associated risks of damage to vehicles.
Key insights from this project will be used to assess and respond to the condition of key transport infrastructure. In doing so, it will place New South Wales at the forefront of digital asset management, as it will be the first platform of its kind in Australia. Asset AI® will provide enormous benefit to participating councils as it will integrate seamlessly with their existing systems and external data sources to provide insights and advice that can be acted upon in a proactive and timely manner. It is also planned to integrate with Transport for NSW systems, so all levels of government can immediately take advantage of the platform and start to make informed decisions about managing their public assets.
Transport for NSW is the lead agency managing the project with the NSW & ACT Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA). IPWEA provides technical expertise in public works and asset management and are critical in advocacy and engagement efforts with industry and the public works community. The Canterbury-Bankstown Council is the primary council partner for this project. The first phase of the Project was completed in June 2022, with preparations now underway to commence phase two. The project is expected to complete implementation with Canterbury-Bankstown Council by the first quarter of 2024.