Apr 16, 2026 By Conner Goetz 4 min read

Canonsburg Borough Council narrowly voted to purchase an AI-powered software package for about $10,000 to assist public works staff maintain roads, track code violations and GIS mapping.

The motion passed 4-3 during a Monday night meeting following intense discussion of the financial prudence of the purchase, with some board members calling to table the vote until it could be discussed ahead of the 2027 borough budget.

Vialytics Software is sold by Edison, New Jersey-based Vialytics Americas Inc., who say their flagship product empowers busy public works departments to maximize efficiency and focus on what matters most.

“By automating data collection and maintenance tasks, we free up your valuable time and resources, allowing you to prioritize what really matters for your community,” according to the company website.

The software automatically collects photographic data via a cellphone mounted on the dashboard of a borough vehicle, which then produces a detailed report of the condition of every road that was scanned.

The company says that the report factors in 15 different types of road wear, plus damage to nearby traffic signs, manhole covers and surface-visible sewer infrastructure.

Council President Eric Chandler said borough engineering firm Remington & Vernick Engineers (RVE) recommended that Canonsburg officials look into the software after two other municipalities they advise had positive experiences with Vialytics services.

“We talked to the two other municipalities; they love it, they say it’s easy to use,” Chandler said.

Chandler said the software will be used primarily in road maintenance, but could also assist GIS mapping and other uses.

Borough officials could use photographs taken by the program to inform whether to issue citations for code violations, he said.

According to Chandler, the Vialytics software maintains a record of previous reports so borough staff could consult previous images of a property to see if a violation has been corrected over time.

Council member Richard Russo questioned whether the borough had the financial means to afford the software. He suggested council table the adoption vote until late 2026 when it could be factored into the 2027 budget.

“Because it’s such a financial commitment, it needs further discussion,” Russo said. “This software is a want, not a need.”

Chandler said the purchase agreement under consideration is not a multi-year contract with automatic renewal, and that the borough could withdraw or opt not to renew the agreement at any point in the future.

The approximately $10,000 initial price tag includes a set-up fee and annual activation, Chandler said, which would cost around $8,300 annually after the first year.

Council member Edward Yorke Jr. said he was willing to discuss the matter further, but the borough could ultimately live without the software.

According to Russo, the borough is small enough at about three square miles to not need a tool like Vialytics. A human employee could visually inspect the road themselves without the need for the software, he said.

“I’ll give you that it’s great software, but the fact is we didn’t budget for it,” Russo said.

Russo said council may be forced to consider a property tax hike at the end of the year with the current underwhelming state of borough finances, so paying for the new software out of budget would not be a sound fiduciary decision.

Borough Public Works Director Brian Moody said he didn’t know enough about the software to determine if it would be a worthwhile purchase for his department.

Chandler said he anticipates borough staff will begin deploying the software within the next two months.

High-tech tools like Vialytics can gather the data necessary for municipalities to plan better and maintain infrastructure in a more efficient manner, according to Chandler.

“Let’s face it, AI is here,” he said, “so let’s use it to improve the borough for our residents.”