The Bengaluru South City Corporation has introduced an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based vehicle inspection system on a pilot basis to identify civic issues on roads, including footpath encroachments, potholes, garbage dumping, and construction debris.

K.N. Ramesh, South Corporation Commissioner, said the inspection vehicle, fitted with AI-enabled cameras and GPS devices, would capture photographs and videos while travelling along roads. “The system will analyse the visuals and identify and categorise civic issues, then it will automatically be forwarded to the officials concerned,” he said.

“Around 75 km of roads, out of the corporation’s total network of 311 roads, have been selected for the pilot project. If the system delivers the expected results, we plan to extend it across the jurisdiction,” Mr. Ramesh added. 

Misuse of basements

The AI system is also intended to detect the misuse of building basements. It will identify cases where basements have been converted into commercial establishments, besides flagging unauthorised shops, advertising boards, and footpath encroachments. The corporation will also explore its use for property tax revision and detection of building bylaw violations.

Each issue detected during the survey will be automatically registered as a complaint ticket along with its GPS location. The tickets will be routed to the assistant executive engineer.

Before and after

Further, officials will have to inspect the reported locations and take action. Once the issue is resolved, the official will have to upload pictures showing the condition before and after, following which the ticket will be closed, according to Mr. Ramesh.