Runway surfaces need regular monitoring to keep airport operations safe. Small cracks and surface damage can develop into loose material on the runway, creating a safety risk for aircraft.
Traffic Data Service Cluster member ScanwAi launched a joint pilot with Dubrovnik Airport in late 2025 to test a new approach to runway monitoring.
During routine drives, a smartphone installed in an existing airport vehicle records video of the runway surface. The video is then analysed to identify cracks, potholes and surface wear. The monitoring can be carried out without closing the runway or using a dedicated survey vehicle.
Results from the pilot showed that an AI-analysed damage report could be available within two hours of a survey run. More than 85% of the recorded footage was interpreted within that time.
The solution is designed to support more frequent monitoring and help identify surface damage at an earlier stage.
Based on the pilot, ScanwAi estimates that more proactive maintenance and reduced reliance on laser scanning and manual monitoring could help lower maintenance and repair costs and extend the lifespan of runway surfaces.
The Dubrovnik pilot shows how existing airport vehicles, video data and AI can be combined to make runway monitoring more frequent and easier to integrate into everyday operations.
