Highways bosses to investigate how AI can be safely used to assist with road repairs
Highways bosses are to investigate how Artificial Intelligence can be safely used to assist with road repairs in Lincolnshire amid concerns about mistakes.
Highways chiefs say the authority will work with the Future Highways Research Group to examine how AI can be used safely to support road repairs and what human checks are needed to maintain accuracy.
Speaking at an LCC highways and transport scrutiny committee on Monday, November 2, Jonathan Evans, head of highways client at Lincolnshire County Council, explained that the council wants to understand the “ultimate risk” of using AI to help identify “defects” within roads.
He said that council officers currently have the final say over issues within the county’s roads, but raised concerns about the risks of letting AI do too much of the work.
He added: “The issue that we all face legally is that if that (an issue) is missed or that’s incorrect, the council would be liable, or as an officer we would be liable as a team.
“So, in this pioneer programme, we will be looking at the human checks that gateways that are needed as part of that process.”
Coun Charlotte Vernon (Conservative – Colsterworth Rural) said: “I think you’re very right to ask the question about what can AI do to assist rather than what it can actually do.
“Because I think we must be mindful of the fact that actually with every role that we have there is a requirement to have a human interaction.
“So, AI is brilliant and is hugely useful, but I think we must be mindful and remember that as we head into this sort of AI world.”