Tara Murray
Brimbank council is implementing an innovative mobile 5G-based technology to the side of its waste trucks, to automatically detect, identify and map roadside assets that need maintenance.
The pilot project will result in cameras or laser solutions mounted to the side of its trucks as a way to gather data on Brimbank’s roads and footpaths as the trucks travel over the municipality delivering waste services.
The data will be used to decide what public roads, road signs, road spaces and other public assets need maintenance.
The Mobile 5G Internet of Things (IoT) solution for data driven road asset maintenance in the Brimbank project will be delivered in partnership with Swinburne University and Optus.
The project will automate asset condition monitoring and auditing, reducing the time (to within a week) to identify and document all of Brimbank’s road and roadside assets requiring maintenance, and provide real time information to maintenance crews.
The pilot project is supported by a $1.18 million Federal Government grant under the Australian 5G Innovation Initiative.
Brimbank is the only local government area to receive funding under the inaugural round of these grants.
Brimbank mayor Jasmine Nguyen said this project was in response to community feedback.
“Residents have told us via the Community Survey that improving the appearance of Brimbank’s roads, road signs, bus stop shelters and roadside spaces is a high priority,” she said.
“This innovative 5G-based project offers us a quicker and more efficient way to identify which assets need maintenance, and to get the information to the work crews.
“Simply put, this project will help council respond faster to assets that need maintenance.”
