Arlington Using Unique Technology To Collect Important Roadway Information

The initiative is meant to help prioritize future pavement repairs and other infrastructure improvements.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Jul 30, 2026 11:36 AM EDT

The vehicles are equipped with 360-degree cameras, GPS, and LiDAR, a laser-based mapping technology that creates detailed three-dimensional measurements of roads and surrounding infrastructure. (Amber Fisher/Patch)

ARLINGTON, MA — The town is conducting a large-scale inventory of its roads over the next week to help prioritize future pavement repairs and other infrastructure improvements.

Residents may notice vehicles operated by the town's contractor, CYVL, driving throughout Arlington with roof-mounted sensing equipment. According to the town, the survey will document pavement conditions, pavement markings, and traffic signs to provide a comprehensive assessment of the community's roadway network.

Boston-based CYVL specializes in digital infrastructure mapping for local governments and works with more than 500 municipalities across the country. Its technology reportedly collects roadway data in a single pass, allowing communities to evaluate pavement conditions more efficiently than traditional visual inspections while also documenting sidewalks, curbs, traffic signs, and pavement markings.

The company says it assigns objective condition ratings to individual road segments, helping municipalities identify streets that would benefit from preventive maintenance before more extensive and costly reconstruction becomes necessary.

The assessment comes as Arlington continues investing in its transportation infrastructure. Earlier this summer, the town completed much of its 2026 Pavement Preservation Project, resurfacing several streets as part of its ongoing effort to extend the lifespan of local roadways and reduce long-term maintenance costs.