An innovative road-monitoring system developed by RMIT University is being trialled in partnership with RACV to identify potholes and deteriorating road surfaces before they become serious safety hazards.
The ‘Pothole Patrol’ pilot uses artificial intelligence (AI), GPS tracking, video capture and vehicle movement data to detect road defects in near real time.
The technology, known as RoughSense, has been installed in an RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance van operating across Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
During the first two months of the trial, between August 21 and October 21, the system identified more than 300 road defects while travelling approximately 1000 kilometres.
Most defects were recorded along the Frankston-Flinders Road corridor through Tyabb, Hastings, Bittern and Balnarring.
The system detects potholes, cracking, rutting and early signs of road deterioration, allowing researchers to monitor how road conditions change over time.
RMIT project lead Dr Amirali Khodadadian Gostar said the technology combined advanced sensors, satellite tracking, driver validation and AI to analyse road conditions.
“The RACV van was a critical mechanism to test the effectiveness of our defect detecting device,” Gostar said.
RMIT Associate Professor Hormoz Marzbani said continuous monitoring could identify deteriorating road surfaces before major repairs became necessary.
“Repeat passes over the same stretch of road identified worsening potholes, demonstrating the value of continuous monitoring,” Marzbani said.
RACV head of public policy James Williams said the project addressed concerns raised by thousands of motorists through RACV’s 2026 My Country Road survey.
“This trial demonstrates how technology can provide valuable insights into road conditions, helping support more targeted maintenance planning and investment decisions,” Williams said.
The trial vehicle is operated by Mornington-based RACV patrol driver Mark Orlando, who manually flags defects to help validate the system’s findings.
The project, funded by the National Road Action Grant, will continue until January 2027.
Researchers will use the results to improve detection accuracy and reliability, while exploring opportunities to install the technology across larger vehicle fleets.
The ultimate objective is to help road authorities move from reactive repairs towards preventative maintenance, improving road safety while reducing long-term infrastructure costs.