The Department for Transport has announced the first round of approvals for road survey systems that are compliant with the new road condition monitoring standard, PAS 2161.
The approvals process, which is done by survey technology not survey provider, confirms ‘that the survey technology has demonstrated it meets minimum requirements... and can deliver data according to PAS 2161,’ DfT officials said.
A list of 10 different systems and technologies, provided by eight companies, was granted approval.
The most common type of system among the group is ‘dedicated mobile technologies’ (AISIN, Metricell, Route Reports, Vaisala and WDM) followed by dedicated data collection vehicles (Cyclomedia, Gaist, XAIS-PTS) and then application-based mobile technologies (Metricell) and engineers’ inspections (XAIS-PTS).
DfT officials added that ‘approvals are valid over the course of the next financial year to match the data collection/reporting period, but it is likely that another demonstration trial will be carried out before the year ends’.
The next approvals process for new applications will run in 2026, with the aim of having another list of approved suppliers by next summer. DfT added that appointing an auditor for the system was also 'a priority'.
Transition delay
There has been a delay to the transition from the current red, amber, green system to the new 1-5 categories of road condition under PAS2161.
In May next year, local authorities will be asked for data by DfT on the old standard and should be provided as red, amber and green.
When data is requested in May 2027 (covering 2026/27), where possible it should be provided in categories 1 to 5 under the new system.
For 2026/27, councils will be expected to use PAS approved technology unless the authority has already procured surveys and the technology is not approved, and/or it has a multi-year contract.
In these circumstances, councils do not need to reprocure but should look to procure an approved technology when your current contract ends.
