Vehicles already drive most streets every week, but the defects they pass are only reported when someone complains. Cameras on those routes can flag likely defects with a photo and location, while inspectors keep the final say. These four steps keep the scope narrow, protect privacy and tie every confirmed defect to a work order.

Step 1 — Choose the defects that matter

Goal: Agree a short list of defects worth detecting.

  1. List the defects that cause the most complaints, claims or safety risk.
  2. Pick two or three to start, such as potholes, damaged signs or blocked paths.
  3. Write a plain definition and example photos for each.
  4. Agree who confirms each defect type and how work orders are prioritised.

You finish with: A short defect list with definitions, examples and owners.

Step 2 — Capture on existing routes

Goal: Collect usable images without extra drives.

  1. Choose vehicles that already cover the target streets regularly.
  2. Mount cameras and record location with every image.
  3. Decide what is processed on the vehicle and what is sent for review.
  4. Blur faces and number plates before images are stored or reviewed.

You finish with: Located, privacy-protected images from routine routes.

Step 3 — Flag and confirm

Goal: Put likely defects in front of an inspector.

  1. Flag likely defects with a photo, location and defect type.
  2. Group repeat flags at the same location.
  3. Have an inspector confirm, reject or reclassify each flag.
  4. Create a work order only for confirmed defects.

You finish with: Inspector-confirmed defects with work orders.

Step 4 — Measure and refine

Goal: Show earlier detection and a lower review load.

  1. Track the share of flags confirmed by inspectors.
  2. Track time from capture to work order.
  3. Compare defects found by drives with those found by complaints.
  4. Use rejected flags to tighten definitions and the model.

You finish with: Measured results and a list of improvements.

Common pitfalls

  • Trying to detect every defect type at once.
  • Creating work orders without an inspector confirming them.
  • Storing images with visible faces or number plates.
  • Adding dedicated drives instead of using routes vehicles already cover.

See it as a workflow

Facilities & operations

Street asset defect reports from routine drives

Use images captured on routine drives to flag likely road, sign and street-furniture defects with a location, so an inspector confirms each one and real defects become work orders.

See the workflow

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