Robot to help conduct ADA assessments of sidewalks in Morganton

MORGANTON, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — The city of Morganton will be conducting an ADA self-assessment of its sidewalks using the help of a robotic device.

Precision Infrastructure Management (PIM) will begin the assessments on Monday, Aug. 26. The city owns about 50 miles of sidewalk that will be evaluated during the assessment, officials said.

“We are dedicated to making Morganton a more inclusive and accessible community,” Public Works Director Michael Chapman said. “This ADA Self-Assessment is a significant step in identifying and addressing any barriers that may exist within our public right-of-way sidewalks. We are excited to partner with Precision Infrastructure Management to achieve our goals.”

The assessment will use a combination of human technicians and an innovative robotic assessment device. Officials say the integration of advanced technology with industry professionals will provide a precise evaluation of the city’s sidewalks, identifying areas in need of improvement to better serve all residents, including those with disabilities.

The Daxbot uses GPS to gather data with high locational accuracy. It’s equipped with technology to ensure precise records of cracks and uplifts and can calculate the percentage of running and cross slopes. To learn more about the Daxbot, click here . To watch a video of how it collects sidewalk data, click here .

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