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Success Stories: AI-Powered Road Repairs - Connected World

As AI (artificial intelligence) continues to transform how communities manage critical infrastructure, universities are investing in research and innovation that can help public agencies make smarter, faster, and more cost-effective decisions about road maintenance.

As one example, PaveX, a Purdue University-related startup founded by Purdue civil engineering researcher Mohammad Jahanshahi, recently received a $305,000 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation to advance its AI-powered technology for automating road condition assessments. The technology is designed to help public works departments evaluate road conditions and plan repairs sooner and more efficiently.

What makes this technology innovative is its use of advanced AI to streamline a traditionally time-consuming process. Instead of relying primarily on manual road inspections, PaveX’s technology can help agencies collect and analyze road condition data more efficiently, giving decision-makers better information about where repairs are needed and when they should be prioritized.

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China is shifting its new data centers to rural Eastern locations as it looks for extra AI power

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Greg Abbott says data center companies “dug their own grave” by moving into communities without first gaining support, signaling growing Republican backlash

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Ever wanted an RGB gaming chair? Razer will finally sell you one, but there's a big catch

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Employers are quietly rehiring the people AI replaced, and paying them less to come back

Forrester reports that 55% of employers regret laying off workers for AI and expects half of AI-attributed layoffs to be quietly reversed, with jobs returning offshore or at significantly lower wages. In Europe, a revised directive will require consultation before such decisions, backed by financial penalties. The companies that cut

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China is shifting its new data centers to rural Eastern locations as it looks for extra AI power

Greg Abbott says data center companies “dug their own grave” by moving into communities without first gaining support, signaling growing Republican backlash

Ever wanted an RGB gaming chair? Razer will finally sell you one, but there's a big catch

Employers are quietly rehiring the people AI replaced, and paying them less to come back