Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet, has begun sharing pothole location data collected by its robotaxi fleet with municipal officials in cities where it operates.

Municipal officials in multiple cities have reached out to Waymo requesting assistance in locating potholes on their streets, according to reports. The cities had assumed that Waymo's vehicles, which are equipped with extensive sensor systems for navigation, would naturally collect such road condition data during their operations.

Waymo confirmed that it does maintain pothole location data gathered by its autonomous vehicles and has recently begun providing this information to interested cities. The company's fleet of robotaxis continuously monitors road conditions as part of their operational requirements, creating a detailed database of street-level infrastructure issues.

The data sharing represents a practical application of the extensive sensor information collected by autonomous vehicles during regular operations. Waymo's vehicles use multiple cameras, lidar, and radar systems to navigate safely, which can identify road surface irregularities like potholes as potential obstacles.

This collaboration between Waymo and municipal governments demonstrates how autonomous vehicle companies can provide additional value to communities beyond transportation services. Cities have long struggled with efficient pothole detection and repair, often relying on citizen reports or periodic manual inspections to identify problem areas.

The partnership also involves Waze, another Alphabet-owned company, which receives pothole data that can then be shared with its user base to help drivers navigate around road hazards.