MELBOURNE, Fla. — If you see a white van covered in cameras and sensors driving around Melbourne beginning Thursday, Oct. 15, there’s no need to worry — it’s part of a citywide road study.
The city’s consultant, Michael Baker International, will use the van’s 3D scanners, LiDAR, pavement lasers, HD cameras and navigation systems to assess every road Melbourne maintains.
City officials say the data will help engineers decide which roads need resurfacing first — before they deteriorate to the point of needing a much costlier full rebuild.
“Because it is far less expensive to maintain roads through resurfacing than to rebuild them,” the city said in an announcement, the study will help direct money to the roads that need it most.
What happens next
The survey is expected to wrap up by the end of 2026. City staff will then use the results to update Melbourne’s Pavement Management Plan by early 2027, creating a priority list for future road repairs.
The city says regular resurfacing preserves the layers beneath the road surface and helps streets last longer. Full reconstruction, by comparison, requires more equipment, materials and design work — and can cost up to 20 times more than resurfacing.
Residents, businesses and visitors do not need to do anything. The van will simply be traveling public roadways as it gathers information.
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