Local authorities face a significant shift in how road condition data is collected and assessed following the introduction of PAS 2161, the new national standard for road condition monitoring. Meeting this requirement, W.D.M. Limited (WDM) combines its established expertise with Metricell’s SmartVision AI platform, delivering compliant and detailed survey data that supports informed maintenance and network management.
AI meets road assessment vehicles
WDM operates Road Assessment Vehicles (RAV) that use laser and imaging technology to capture detailed data on road surfaces in line with the SCANNER specification, a recognised standard for road condition surveys. SmartVision applies computer vision models to this imagery, automatically detecting and classifying defects such as cracks and potholes, plus other infrastructure assets.
The neural network within SmartVision processes real-time data received from RAV surveys. It translates vast quantities of raw information into precise, scalable condition assessments. This combination of engineering insight and AI analysis ensures surveys meet PAS 2161 requirements while improving efficiency and data consistency across the network.
Supporting local authorities through change
PAS 2161 alters previous approaches by emphasising repeatable, accurate, and scalable condition data collection. WDM’s Highways Infrastructure Asset Management System (HIAMS) acts as the software backbone, integrating survey data and delivering actionable insights for maintenance prioritisation, resource allocation, and safety planning.
By pairing HIAMS with SmartVision’s automated defect identification, UK local authorities can transition to PAS 2161 with confidence. The system supports essential decision-making, helps justify expenditure, and maintains consistency for national reporting, which many authorities require under CDM and NRSWA regulations.
Beyond compliance: richer data for better management
Survey data does more than check a box. It forms the basis for proactive highway asset management, enabling councils to monitor a wider range of infrastructure features beyond basic surface condition. This includes kerb-line integrity, drainage assets, and signs, all from one survey pass.
The combined solution from WDM and SmartVision offers detailed, reliable datasets. These datasets enable more effective maintenance programming and budget optimisation, extending asset life and improving network resilience. The approach supports the sector’s ongoing move towards predictive and preventative interventions on UK carriageways, verges and slip roads.
WDM and Metricell’s collaboration delivers PAS 2161-compliant road condition surveying by merging specialist highway engineering with scalable AI analytics, addressing the evolving needs of UK highway authorities while maintaining data quality and integrity.
