Highways magazine has teamed up with FYLD, a leading provider of fieldwork software powered by artificial intelligence (AI), to launch the UK road sector's first AI Symposium.
Taking place this month, the event will bring together leading tier one companies, local authorities, National Highways and professional bodies such as the Institute of Highway Engineers.
The symposium aims to foster a collaborative conversation about how the sector can address what has become a critical industry challenge – making the most of revolutionary AI technology. It follows prime minister Keir Starmer's plans to 'turbocharge' the UK's use of AI, with dedicated 'AI Growth Zones'.
There will be a full write-up in the April issue of Highways and potentially a follow-up report or white paper drawn from the recommendations of the group.
Highways magazine editor Dominic Browne said: ‘AI is the most transformational innovation since the internet. Any organisation not evolving to take account of it will in all likelihood be badly left behind. The highways sector has made some very impressive early developments in this area, most notably in terms of road condition monitoring, with at least one council switching from manual inspections to solely using video and AI technology to log and programme pothole repairs.
‘However, there are many other major opportunities to pursue and improvements to be discovered. This is why Highways magazine is very proud to be working closely with FYLD on the roads sector’s first AI symposium, where some of the biggest names in our sector will help discuss the key issues around this vital agenda.
'If we don’t move forward we will fail in our duty to provide the best value for money to the public, but as with any nascent or developing market there will be a lot of hype and many pitfalls to avoid. We hope a collective effort can remove some of the risks and point a way towards principles that work for all.’
Joshua Wood, FYLD client director, said: ‘As a company at the forefront of AI-driven innovation, we’re thrilled to see the UK Government’s ambitious blueprint for leveraging AI to transform industries, including highways. At FYLD, we know firsthand how technology can create safer, smarter, and more efficient roads, and this announcement validates the importance of the work we do.
'Detecting potholes in real-time, streamlining roadworks, and reducing congestion aren’t just technical achievements, but rather improving the daily lives of everyone who uses our roads. We’re excited to contribute to this vision and partner with the Government to turn these plans into tangible results for communities across the UK.'
Topics for discussion include:
- What are the biggest opportunities and threats from AI and how can we build a collective response?
- How can we develop best practice for highways in AI?
- What are the barriers to using AI to deliver cost-effective highways maintenance?
- How do we utilise technology to minimise the number of roadworks, as well as limiting the number of site revisits?
- How can we use digital innovations to streamline sector-wide operations, reduce delays and optimise resource allocation?
- What strategies can we use to ensure AI and digital working improves workforce safety across infrastructure projects?
- How do we build partnerships to tackle long-term issues like sustainability and funding constraints using modern technology?
