Company or Institution

Visual Defence Inc.

Industry

Transportation

Website

https://www.cityrover.com

Country

Canada

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

General description of the AI solution

CityROVER is an environmentally friendly smart camera developed by Visual Defence using repurposed smartphones that automates the detection and reporting of road hazards and pavement distresses, assisting local governments and cities with road maintenance and asset management procedures.
The CityROVER device is mounted onto a vehicle windshield. It can be used within a dedicated patrol / inspection vehicle or within any vehicle (i.e. garbage truck, bylaws, or others) that has a good coverage of the city roads. While the vehicle is in motion, CityROVER captures high quality images with incidents, including GPS location. This data is then transmitted to our cloud servers where the data is automatically further organized, optimized, and arranged for review, work management, and reports. City staff can access the data through a web interface and respond faster, smarter and more effectively.
Using CityROVER allows communities to provide services in a sustainable manner and take a proactive approach in road maintenance, providing superior safety to staff and the public. In addition, Partner cities already using the technology report up to 300% productivity improvement in patrols and up to 100% repair crew productivity improvements, extending the pavement life. The data is also easily correlated to annual road rehabilitation programs, asset management plans, and work management, helping with budgeting and resource estimates. This proactive approach in tackling maintenance issues can also result in 30% decline in public complaints and up to 90% reduction in claims.
The technology is highly effective and highly transferable, having been deployed in over 150 cities of various sizes in different countries, positively impacting the safe and convenient travel of millions of people and helping cities provide infrastructure maintenance services at cost and efficiency not previously possible. Our technology has received objective, positive feedback, coverage and accolades by media, industry associations, and the municipal community.

Publications

BBC Earth Documentary: https://players.brightcove.net/1578131970/oQY6hL6OX_default/index.html?playlistId=1738171482820751968&t=905s

Project showcase by major Canadian municipality, Durham Region: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qK-jDNf7oE

ITS Canada Issue 1 (page 11), City of Moncton Use: https://www.cacpublishing.ca/essential-its-issue-1

Transportation Association of Canada Technology Achievement Award, Durham Region, Page 5 bottom: https://www.tac-atc.ca/sites/default/files/site/doc/awards/2022_awards_en.pdf

Excellence in Municipal Systems Award, 2022 with City of Windsor: https://www.misa-asim.ca/page/ON_Awards_History

Needs