Hawai‘i is so rich in natural beauty that in parts of the world its name is shorthand for paradise. But exploring that paradise depends on something far more prosaic: roads.
Maintaining them is anything but easy. Sun, salty air, torrential rain, lush vegetation, and even volcanic activity take a relentless toll on roads and highways that encircle and cross the U.S. state’s islands. That challenge is why the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT), working with the University of Hawai‘i, launched Eyes on the Road.
The program uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to analyze imagery from 1,000 high-definition dashcams. The free cameras were handed out to residents for installation in their cars to help spot road problems early—before they become safety hazards. “The Eyes on the Road program will give us the information we need to get to damaged facilities quickly,” HDOT Director Ed Sniffen says.
HDOT and Bentley recently announced their collaboration.
The dashcams automatically record video as residents go about their day, capturing road safety issues such as guardrail damage, vegetation encroachment, and road debris. The system uploads the video to the cloud via a cellular connection and anonymizes the data. Using machine learning algorithms and advanced AI analytics, Blyncsy automatically detects issues and generates reports on road conditions.
This technology enables transportation agencies to prioritize maintenance, improve safety, and make data-driven and more efficient decisions. “Bentley’s goal is to give transportation agencies real-time visibility into the state of their roadways,” says Mark Pittman, Blyncsy’s founder and senior director of transportation AI at Bentley Systems. “By combining AI and machine learning analytics with dash cam imagery, we are helping Hawai‘i DOT move from reactive to proactive maintenance to reduce risk, lower costs, and save lives.”
Blyncsy’s imagery map shows the detection of designated roads in every U.S. state and a sample reflectivity score for every capital city.Pittman first conceived the idea behind Blyncsy more than a decade ago, after getting stuck in a traffic jam caused by a broken traffic light. The vast U.S. road network carries roughly 70% of the goods Americans consume, yet maintaining it often relies on guesswork and outdated inspection methods. Pittman wondered whether AI could help close those gaps. Bentley acquired Blyncsy in 2023 and has since emerged as an industry leader in AI-powered roadway insights for state and local transportation agencies. Before Blyncsy, Pittman says, transportation agencies often spent months collecting detailed 360-degree imagery of roads and infrastructure—work that could cost up to $300 per mile and take five months to process. Blyncsy has sharply reduced both. “We’ve been able to take that same information to market at half the cost and deliver it in 98% less time,” Pittman says.
HDOT reports that 898 drivers have signed up on the island of O‘ahu, 69 on Hawai‘i Island, 33 on Maui, 14 on Kaua‘i, and one on Moloka‘i as of early January. To provide a comprehensive overview of the state’s 982 miles of roadways and 744 bridges, HDOT says it is seeking an additional 321 participants on Hawai‘i Island, 211 on Maui, and 101 on Kaua‘i.
The Hawai‘i program marked the second major announcement for Bentley’s Asset Analytics business in 2026. Earlier in January, Bentley said it had made two acquisitions—of Talon Aerolytics and the technology and technical expertise of Pointivo—to strengthen its Asset Analytics portfolio. The acquisitions “significantly strengthen Bentley’s Asset Analytics portfolio and leadership in the burgeoning Asset Analytics market,” said James Lee, Bentley’s chief operating officer. “They also add to our technical and business momentum, and help infrastructure owners and operators improve the performance and resilience of their assets.”
