Uralla Shire takes control of road condition with AutoPilot

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By connecting assets, inspections, workflows, capital works, reporting and long-term planning, Asset Vision supports a more visible, consistent and sustainable approach to infrastructure management.

An entire road network captured in one week, with clearer evidence to guide maintenance and long-term asset decisions.

Uralla Shire Council is using Asset Vision AutoPilot with AI to capture road condition evidence, identify potential defects and support more informed maintenance and planning decisions. Following its initial focus on roads, Council has also captured its footpath network.

Supporting a Connected Regional Community

Uralla Shire Council serves communities across approximately 3,230 square kilometres in northern New South Wales, including Uralla, Bundarra and surrounding rural localities.

Its roads connect residents with services, schools and local businesses. Managing this dispersed network requires a clear understanding of where conditions are changing and which sections need closer assessment. Better inspection evidence gives teams a practical starting point for prioritising available resources.

Moving Beyond Infrequent Assessments

Council wanted more current road condition information and less dependence on fragmented systems and infrequent external assessments.

Inside Local Government reported that five-yearly road condition assessments for asset valuation had historically cost Council around $110,000. A subscription-based platform offers a different approach, enabling local staff to collect updated evidence more regularly and build their own capability in road condition monitoring.

Capturing the Entire Road Network in One Week

Council adopted Asset Vision AutoPilot with AI, initially focusing on roads. In April 2026, its staff captured the entire road network in one week, using vehicle-mounted cameras to create a visual record at 10-metre intervals.

The approach puts local staff at the centre of evidence collection, with information available for further assessment after the driven inspection is complete.

AutoPilot makes the captured imagery available for mapped playback. Teams can revisit locations, examine the surrounding context and extract images with date, time and GPS information. This extends the value of each inspection beyond the time spent on the road, connecting field evidence with office-based review and maintenance decisions.

Features Supporting Practical Assessment

AutoPilot brings field capture and review together through several core capabilities:

  • Automatic image capture creates a consistent visual record during driven inspections, reducing manual recording and device handling.
  • Location-based playback links imagery to GPS locations so teams can navigate routes and review road sections from the office.
  • AI-assisted defect detection flags potential potholes and cracking, helping staff focus on areas that may need attention.
  • Ride quality insights add information about road smoothness alongside the imagery, highlighting sections for closer assessment.
  • Evidence extraction provides images with capture metadata to support follow-up assessment and decisions.

AI detections support the review process. Council staff remain responsible for assessing the evidence and deciding the appropriate response.

Turning Observations into Planning Evidence

Goodes Road provided a local example, with potential defects and variations in ride smoothness identified. In its May 2026 announcement, Council reported that the data was helping refine the platform and support consistent condition ratings.

That connection between captured evidence and further assessment gives the inspection program a clear purpose: helping Council decide where to investigate, maintain and invest.

“These insights support better planning, more targeted maintenance, and improved financial reporting.”

Mick Raby
Acting General Manager, Uralla Shire Council
Council announcement, May 2026

Outcomes and Impact

Council identified several benefits of the approach:

  • More current evidence to inform decisions and strengthen funding applications.
  • Greater local capability through reduced reliance on external consultants.
  • Clearer maintenance priorities to help direct resources where they are needed.
  • Stronger planning information to support financial reporting and asset valuation.

Building Beyond Roads

Following the initial focus on roads, Council has now also captured its footpath network. This extends the program to another important part of the shire’s infrastructure, with opportunities to include other asset types and operational areas in future.

Strengthen Your Road Inspection Evidence

Discover how AutoPilot can strengthen road inspections and maintenance decisions. Download the full Uralla case study or speak with Asset Vision about your inspection program.