Western Cape deploys AI for smarter road infrastructure

Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the infrastructure engineering software company, has unveiled a major collaboration with the Western Cape Government's Department of Infrastructure to roll out its AI-driven Blyncsy platform across key segments of the province's road network

Marking Blyncsy's debut on the African continent, the programme will cover roughly 5,000 km of roads, leveraging automated computer vision to flag critical infrastructure concerns.

With constrained funding and mounting exposure to weather-related damage, the department is turning to smarter, forward-looking technology to bolster road safety and safeguard the flow of people and goods. Devastating floods in recent years have cut off entire communities, underscoring how urgently a more resilient asset management strategy is needed.

Through Blyncsy, part of Bentley's Asset Analytics portfolio, the department is stepping into a future-ready operating model. The solution draws on crowdsourced dashcam footage and machine learning to automatically flag compromised guardrails, absent signage, malfunctioning streetlights, and road debris. The system also tracks vegetation encroachment, a critical variable in preserving sightlines and preventing blockages during the province's increasingly severe storm seasons.

This evidence-based methodology directly underpins the Roads4U campaign and the Western Cape Infrastructure Framework 2050, both of which champion innovation and strategic collaboration to make the most of a R4.56 billion (US$ 250mn) transport budget. Automating road inspections means hazards such as potholes and drainage-clogging debris can be caught and addressed before they spiral into far more expensive remediation work.

"Providing safe and resilient infrastructure is the foundation of economic opportunity in the Western Cape, particularly as we manage the impacts of climate change on our road network," said Johannes Neethling, chief engineer for transport Infrastructure systems for the Western Cape.

"By integrating Blyncsy's AI technology, we are gaining a level of visibility that was previously impossible. This allows us to maintain a precise digital inventory of our assets, from guardrails to streetlights, ensuring that our maintenance crews are deployed where they are needed most. This isn't just about better data; it's about a proactive commitment to keeping our roads open and our citizens safe."

"The expansion of Blyncsy into Western Cape of South Africa represents a pivotal step in our mission to provide global transportation agencies with real-time visibility into the state of their infrastructure," said Mark Pittman, senior director of transportation AI at Bentley Systems.

"Western Cape is leading the way on the African continent by embracing empirical evidence to drive financial and operational decisions. As we look toward bringing this technology to more markets worldwide, our goal remains clear: to replace historical precedent with AI-driven insights that reduce risk, lower costs, and ultimately save lives. We are proud to partner with a department that is so clearly focused on building a resilient future."