Northamptonshire roads campaigner uses AI to identify potholes
STAN - Safer Travel Around Neighbourhoods - is a new app using artificial intelligence to film, isolate and plot different defects whilst driving.
Last updated 29th May 2024
A new app using AI is being used by a Northamptonshire roads campaigner to identify potholes.
STAN stands for stands for Safer Travel Around Neighbourhoods and can be installed by anyone to film from their windscreen, according to Mark Morrell aka Mr Pothole.
The app can be used to report potholes to highways authorities and to support compensation claims.
Mark Morrell also known as Mr Pothole, has been working closely with Stan to help improve the app to ensure better outcomes for road users.
Speaking about the app he said: "'It’s reading the road far better than a manual inspector can, because it isn't an easy job but this app doesn't tend to miss much.
“At the moment councils are saying they are fixing potholes and defects but using Stan, the public can share reports with the councils which will have been informed and have no excuses not to repair them.
“The designers of Stan are hoping to get councils to take it on board, rather than sending out staff to every reported defect.
"It records defects, stamps and dates when the survey is started and stopped.
"15% of the roads have been survey so far by the public and 25% of the motorway network.
Mark believes AI is going to cause councils massive problems due to the levels of accuracy presented within the app, but he also highlighted that more funding is needed from the central government to help tackle deteriorating roads.
Mark also highlighted how increasing insurance premiums are partially down to more repairs being needed because of incidents caused by poor road surfaces.
He says in short, with better roads we could see a decrease in insurance premiums.