Driving the future of highways with AI: Insights from the Highways Magazine Roundtable

On February 26th, industry leaders gathered at the Institution of Civil Engineers headquarters in Westminster, London, for a groundbreaking symposium on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in highways management. Hosted by Highways Magazine and FYLD, the roundtable brought together key decision-makers and thought leaders to discuss the transformative potential of AI in the highways and infrastructure sector.

A vital conversation for the future of highways

With an economy increasingly driven by data and technology, leveraging AI in highways management has become more crucial than ever. The event explored the vast potential of AI to enhance road safety, streamline maintenance, and reduce congestion, while addressing the challenges of implementation and adoption.

The symposium’s core goal was to foster collaboration across public and private sectors, academia, and industry experts to develop a collective approach to AI integration. As government initiatives increasingly focus on data-driven infrastructure, such as the Mayoral Data Council and the devolution agenda—the roundtable provided a vital platform to discuss how highways management could align with these efforts.

Key themes: From challenges to solutions

The symposium tackled pressing questions about how AI can transform the sector:

• Opportunities and threats:  Attendees discussed the biggest opportunities and risks associated with AI adoption and examined how the industry could collectively address them.

• Best practices for AI in highways: Participants shared insights on developing standardised practices that leverage AI to improve road maintenance, safety, and efficiency.

• Overcoming barriers: Discussions focused on breaking down obstacles to using AI for cost-effective maintenance and how to ensure buy-in from public and private stakeholders.

• Collaborating with government initiatives:  Experts explored how the highways sector could work with the planned Mayoral Data Council and align with the Government’s devolution agenda on AI.

• Reducing congestion and minimizing rework:  Delegates considered how technology could minimize the frequency of roadworks and reduce the need for site revisits, thereby cutting congestion and associated costs.

• Safety and workforce wellbeing: The importance of digital innovations in enhancing workforce safety was highlighted, emphasizing real-time risk management and predictive safety measures.

• Building long-term partnerships: The roundtable underscored the need to form strategic alliances to address sustainability and funding challenges through modern technology.

Insights and takeaways

The discussions made it clear that industry-wide collaboration is essential to unlocking the full potential of AI in highways management. By fostering partnerships between public and private sectors, academia, and industry leaders, the sector can drive innovation while ensuring the public good.

One of the major themes was the importance of using AI to address specific, high-cost problems rather than pursuing technology for its own sake. Predictive planning, intelligent decision-making, and the proactive use of data to manage assets more effectively emerged as top priorities.

FYLD’s role in the AI revolution

As a key partner in the event, FYLD demonstrated how its AI-powered platform has already made a significant impact across the infrastructure sector. By streamlining fieldwork, enhancing safety measures, and optimizing resource allocation, FYLD is enabling contractors and utility providers to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

One standout example shared at the event highlighted how FYLD helped Colas reduce road disruption through better planning and coordination, achieving a significant reduction in road closure times and minimizing public inconvenience. By leveraging real-time data and predictive planning, Colas enhanced productivity while maintaining rigorous safety standards. Watch this in action with the video here.  

A call to action: Embrace innovation in highways management

With the UK government pushing for greater accountability in road maintenance funding, highways authorities are now required to publish detailed reports on the condition of their roads, how they are minimizing streetworks disruption, and their investment in long-term preventive maintenance programmes. Additionally, they must demonstrate robust plans to tackle wetter winters and address evolving climate challenges .

In this context, embracing digital transformation is no longer optional—it’s essential. AI-driven platforms like FYLD not only enhance operational efficiency but also support highways authorities in meeting stringent reporting requirements. By leveraging real-time data, predictive analytics, and smart planning, FYLD helps councils not only deliver on these commitments but also unlock the extra cash tied to successful performance.

Looking ahead: The road to smarter highways

The consensus from the roundtable was clear: embracing AI is essential to creating safer, more efficient highways. By focusing on practical applications and fostering collaboration, the sector can unlock enormous potential to enhance both public safety and operational efficiency.

The symposium concluded with a call to action for the highways sector to lead the charge in digital transformation, ensuring the UK’s road network remains resilient, sustainable, and future-ready.

You can read the full article in  Highways Magazine here. Ready to take the next step in digital transformation? Discover how FYLD can help your team work smarter and safer.  Get in touch for a demo today!