Litter, dilapidation, overgrown yards and illegal dumping damage a city’s appearance and livability. But it’s difficult for code enforcement officials to learn about and process every incident.
In Columbia, South Carolina, garbage trucks could become the eyes of the city’s Public Works Administration. Using a beautification grant, the city is testing a program that would outfit trash trucks with cameras that gather footage for an AI system called City Detect to analyze for code violations — a potential boon to code enforcers.
Recently, a 12-week pilot surveyed half of the city, revealing 7,000 potential code violations. Those included debris and litter, cars parked in yards, and overgrown properties. City Detect can also spot illegal dumping, which Columbia Chief Code Enforcement Officer Richard Blackmon said is one of the most common violations.
Homeowners associations are optimistic about the increased accountability that City Detect may bring to Columbia. Some residents are concerned that the AI may flag them for normal transitional activities, such as moving or renovations, but City Detect creators say that the system can account for non-violation contexts. Overall, its goal is to expedite code enforcement, which will improve both the city’s appearance and health.
This article appears in our guide, “Getting Practical with AI.” For more examples of how agencies are making real-world use of AI technology, download it here: