West Berkshire Council uses thermal imaging sensors to improve roads in winter

Thermal imaging sensors are being used to help West Berkshire Council improve how it grits roads in the winter.

Around £225,000 is being invested in a Berkshire-wide scheme in state-of-the-art thermal sensors that are fixed to street lighting columns along winter maintenance routes.

The data from the new sensors will be integrated into the council’s winter forecast process allowing more informed decisions to be made on when roads should be treated.

The sensors have already been installed and data collection has begun showing road surface temperatures on all treated roads in West Berkshire.

The target is to reduce the number of treatments across Berkshire by 40 per cent by 2027.

Jon Winstanley, service director (environment) at West Berkshire Council, said: “This is a very exciting opportunity to take advantage of this emerging technology making our services more efficient and we are proud to be leading on this initiative across Berkshire.

“Long term this will have significant environmental and financial benefits whilst continuing the council’s excellent winter maintenance service.”

Kunle Kolaru, operations director at Volker Highways, said: “We are excited to be working with West Berkshire Council on the rollout of smart sensors for our winter operations.

“Having received training on the installation of the sensors on street lighting columns and gritters, Volker Highways, will be leading on this Berkshire-wide rollout.”