Track potholes in Gallatin with new technology for smoother roads.

TLDR:

• New technology in Gallatin, Tennessee uses sensors to track potholes and road conditions
• The sensors record vibrations from uneven roads and upload data to an interactive map

New technology in Gallatin, Tennessee is revolutionizing the way the city tracks and repairs potholes, cracks, and uneven surfaces on city roads. The city has become the first in Tennessee to utilize sensors that function similar to a seismograph, recording vibrations from road surfaces. These sensors have been installed on 30 city vehicles, including Gallatin Police, Public Works, and Engineering departments. The sensors record vibrations at a rate of 1,000 times per second as the vehicles traverse the city, with the data being uploaded daily to an interactive map that highlights areas in need of attention.

The Assistant City Engineer, Charles Gavaghan, highlighted that the sensors provide an overall picture of pavement conditions across the city, aiding in identifying roads that require immediate repair. The sensors are cost-effective, with the yearly cost being $67,500, compared to the typical $1,000,000-1,500,000 spent on planned repaving. Additionally, the city plans to install eight cameras on trash trucks to capture weekly images of the road network, further enhancing their monitoring capabilities.

Gavaghan mentioned that while previous surveys in 2018 and 2022 provided data on road conditions, the new sensors offer more updated information, enabling better pavement preservation programs. The sensor technology contract is set for five years, after which officials will assess its effectiveness for continued use.