Quad bikes pave the way

Cameras mounted on quad bikes help assess and pinpoint priority repairs.

Randwick City Council, New South Wales, has used quad bikes with cameras and GPS tracking to systematically assess the condition of all local footpaths and shared access ways.

The vehicles roam the 525 km of footpaths within the Randwick Council local government area in order to create accurate records of path conditions and to prioritise future upgrades and repairs.

Randwick Council spends $1.7 million each year to repair and renew footpaths. The data gained from the quad bikes assists Council to effectively prioritise the areas that need attention.

Mayor, Kathy Neilson, said, “Council has always taken a proactive and planned approach towards the maintenance and renewal of footpath assets and used feedback from residents to help identify areas needing repair, which has proven very effective.

“This year we’re adding smart technology to our process, to further improve the speed, accuracy and efficiency of the audit and make sure our pathways are safe for all users. 

The cameras pick up any cracks, damage or uneven surfaces, use GPS to mark the location and provide the maintenance team with the information they need to prioritise future works.