News
3 October, 2026
TfNSW to trial new culvert camera technology
Yass has been identified as one of 10 regional locations where Transport for NSW (TfNSW) will trial new culvert camera technology.
Yass has been identified as one of 10 regional locations where Transport for NSW (TfNSW) will trial new culvert camera technology.
TfNSW hopes that a remote-controlled buggy fitted with a 360-degree camera that provides a glimpse into what lies beneath the state’s road network will revolutionise culvert inspections.
‘Pipe Crawler’ buggies are being trialled at 10 TfNSW road depots around the state, helping maintenance crews inspect the culverts under roads faster and more safely and effectively than current methods.
Across the state’s road network, there are approximately 100,000 culverts and other drainage structures that channel water underneath a road or embankment.
Culverts should be inspected regularly for damage – and repairs carried out – to ensure the condition of the road base.
The 12-month proof of concept trial of Pipe Crawler will help TfNSW improve its understanding of the condition of these assets, supporting safer and more targeted maintenance planning.
Pipe Crawler offers a view from within the confined space of a culvert – and a wealth of quality data about its condition – all from a safe distance behind the buggy’s remote controls.
TfNSW Secretary Josh Murray said road maintenance crews across the state were currently being trained on how to use the Pipe Crawler buggies.
“So far the feedback from the teams has been really positive, and they enjoy using these buggies as they’re simple to manoeuvre and are providing excellent imagery from all angles inside the culvert,” Mr Murray said.
“We can put them in a culvert, do a full inspection and upload it so that anyone around the state in our network can view that material at any time and check what data it’s showing us about the condition of these vital road drainage and inspection points.
“Our engineers can safely and effectively access fully digitised, high-resolution images of a culvert and schedule works around that.
“Not only are there safety benefits for our maintenance teams, who can see into inaccessible culverts remotely, but the data collected will help us identify any issues sooner and more accurately, so critical culvert repairs can be prioritised,” Mr Murray said.
“With more than 20,000 kilometres of state managed roads to maintain, we are always looking to drive innovation and find greater efficiencies, ultimately to ensure the safety, reliability and connectivity for residents, business and freight operators.
“Transport has a fantastic history of innovation and building our own kit that then goes into serving the public through our road network and this simple but ingenious idea is the latest in that innovation,” Mr Murray said.
Pipe Crawler is the brainchild of Transport Asset Area Manager Matt Hellyer who said his enthusiasm for radio-controlled aircraft led him to see the potential for remote controlled machines to innovate the way culvert inspections are done.
“The components of this innovation are relatively low cost, durable and easy to use - an off-the-shelf remote-controlled buggy with a 360-degree action camera and lighting mounted on top,” Mr Hellyer said.
“Images from the camera are uploaded to an app which displays imagery through the culverts in a ‘street view’ style platform.
“The corridor planning team use this to assign a risk rating to each culvert and allocate repairs accordingly,” Mr Hellyer said.
Pipe Crawler will also be trialled at the road depots in Bega, Bomaderry, Dubbo, Grafton, Mardi, Narrabri, Narrandera, Singleton and Tamworth.
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