Lakeland eyes daily pavement surveys with in‑vehicle sensors; pilot priced at $60,000/year

Public‑works staff described a proposed agreement with Roadway Management Technologies to mount pavement sensors on city vehicles to gather daily condition data and produce a data‑driven, multi‑year pavement plan. "They can mount our vehicles, and it surveys our roads every single day when we're driving vehicles through our roadways," the construction‑maintenance manager said, noting the county's pilot program will add coverage when county vehicles traverse city roads.

Staff said the technology uses vibration sensing to detect pavement deterioration and recommends appropriate treatments (mill and overlay, emulsions, etc.), enabling more efficient use of paving funds than biennial surveys. The presented price was $60,000 per year, $240,000 over four years. Commissioners praised the potential to better prioritize spending and reduce unnecessary work.

The item will return for formal contracting and appropriation; staff said sensor data will be processed by the vendor and provided as interactive maps and treatment recommendations.