Roads Getting a High-Tech Makeover

In the heart of Somerville, a young company named Cyvl is shaking up the way cities handle road maintenance. Instead of relying on old-school methods, they're using lasers and AI to spot and fix road problems before they become major headaches. The team at Cyvl has developed a clever sensor that can be strapped to any car. As the car drives around, the sensor uses lidar technology to scan the roads for issues like cracks and potholes. It's like giving the roads a high-tech check-up. The sensor can spot 19 different types of cracks, from "longitudinal" to "transfer" cracks. It can even do this at high speeds, up to 55 miles per hour. The AI then assigns a condition score to each road, helping cities prioritize repairs. This technology is a game-changer for cities. It saves time and money, as it can scan 100 miles of road in less than a week, compared to the 3-4 weeks it used to take manually. It also helps cities be proactive, fixing problems before they cause accidents or damage to vehicles. The company's founders, Daniel Pelaez and Noah Budris, both 27, started Cyvl after seeing the inefficiencies in traditional road maintenance methods. They wanted to use technology to make the process smarter and more efficient. Cyvl has already made a big impact. Their sensors are now used in about 400 cities and towns across the country. They're even exploring other uses for their technology, like inspecting bike lanes and sidewalks. But the company's ambitions don't stop there. They're dreaming big, with Pelaez joking that they might one day inspect roads on the moon. For now, though, they're focused on making a difference right here on Earth.