The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is seeking more drivers statewide to help monitor road conditions through its Eyes on the Road program, an initiative developed by HDOT to provide real-time information on transportation assets without relying on public complaints or reports.
Participants receive a free dash camera that automatically collects footage of roads and bridges. The program is run in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Engineering and Blyncsy.
HDOT Communications Manager Shelly Kunishige told Aloha State Daily the department created the program while looking for a more efficient way to monitor the condition of roads, guardrails, signs and roadside vegetation. HDOT previously worked with Blyncsy on a similar initiative called Payver and modified that system to use dash cameras and artificial intelligence to review footage and flag potential issues.
Nextbase provides the dash camera hardware, while Blyncsy supplies the AI software used to analyze the footage. The AI-generated reports can alert crews to potholes, cracks, damaged guardrails, faded pavement markings, road debris and overgrown vegetation.
Kunishige said the footage is processed by a vendor using AI, which generates work orders emailed to HDOT staff. HDOT does not receive the raw footage, she said, and drivers can access their own recordings through the Nextbase app.
Drivers retain full ownership of their footage and can submit it to law enforcement if they choose, Kunishige told ASD, adding that HDOT uses the information from the program solely for asset management and road maintenance.
While the program focuses on physical road conditions, drivers who capture incidents such as road rage or reckless driving may choose to submit that footage to law enforcement. Kunishige noted the system also benefits participants by helping improve road safety and allowing drivers to document incidents for their own protection.
As of Monday, 898 drivers have signed up on Oʻahu, 69 on Hawaiʻi Island, 33 on Maui, 14 on Kauaʻi and one on Molokaʻi, HDOT said.
To fully monitor the state’s 982 miles of roads and 744 bridges, HDOT is seeking an additional 321 participants on Hawaiʻi Island, 211 on Maui and 101 on Kauaʻi. Sign-ups on Oʻahu are full and prioritized by address to ensure islandwide coverage.
The dash cameras remain the property of the DOT and are loaned to participants.
Kunishige told ASD the program is funded through the state Highway Fund and the cost for 1,000 cameras and image processing totals $761,958 for a one-year performance period.
Selected drivers will receive an email from the University of Hawaiʻi with instructions for picking up their cameras beginning this week. Pickup hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., though drivers should not arrive without prior notification. Pickup locations include Oʻahu (727 Kakoi St., Honolulu), Maui (650 Palapala Drive, Kahului), Hilo (50 Makaʻala St.), Kona (73-200 Kupipi St.) and Kauaʻi (1720 Haleukana St., Līhuʻe).
Kunishige said there are no incentives beyond the free camera on loan. Drivers are expected to participate while they have the device but may arrange to return it if they no longer wish to take part.
More information is available at https://www.eng.hawaii.edu/eyes-on-the-road/.
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