Riyadh Municipality is expanding its use of robots, drones and AI-guided vehicles to keep track of the city's roads, bridges and flood drainage networks. The systems turn raw data into precise readings on the state of the infrastructure, allowing faster repairs and more efficient fieldwork.

The push is in line with the national goals of the 'Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026', which call for government bodies to adopt AI widely. The municipality has made these tools a key part of its development plans for running the city, keeping infrastructure ready and improving services for residents.

For road surveys, it uses what it describes as the first software system of its kind in the Kingdom for digitally scanning and rating Riyadh's streets. Field vehicles fitted with advanced equipment capture data and images, which AI then analyses to spot cracks and surface defects so that repairs can be ordered quickly before damage spreads.

Camera-equipped robots are sent into rainwater and stormwater drainage networks to collect and analyse data, giving engineers a clearer view of conditions inside the pipes and supporting preventive maintenance and early response.

In western Riyadh, drone-mounted cameras have been used to inspect the cables of the suspension bridge, checking the condition of 248 cables as part of proactive maintenance to keep the structure safe. The municipality says the work reflects its strategy of digital transformation and data-driven management of municipal assets.