InternationalResearchJournalofEngineeringandTechnology(IRJET) Volume:13Issue:07|July2026 www.irjet.net
e-ISSN:2395-0056 p-ISSN:2395-0072
IoT Based Smart Pothole Detection And AlertSystem K.SanthiPriya1,T.Vivekananda2,V.Akhila3,MD.Saniya4,MohammedTalhaFarooqui5 Assistant Professor1, Students2345 shanthidurga2823@gmail.com, thappatlananadu@gmail.com, akhilavalishetti@gmail.com, mohammedsaniya06@gmail.com, mohammedtalhafaroogui@gmail.com, Vidya Jyoth iInstitute of Technology (A), Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Abstract – Poor road condition,especially potholes and damaged road surfaces, area major cause of traffic accidents, vehicle damage, increased travel time, and higher maintenance costs. In many regions, road inspections are still carried out manually, making the process time-consuming, expensive, and often unable to identify road damage in real time. This paper presents an IoT Based Smart Pothole Detection and Alert System designed to automate pothole detection and provide instant location-based reporting using low-cost embedded hardware. The proposed system is built around an ESP32 microcontroller, which continuously monitors road surface conditions using a vibration sensor. Whenever a significant vibration caused by a pothole is detected, the ESP32 processes the sensor data, activates a buzzer to indicate successful detection, and acquires the geographical coordinates of the damaged road using a Neo-6MGPSmodule. The collected information, including the pothole status, latitude, longitude, and detection time, is transmitted through the ESP32's built-in Wi-Fi module to the Thing Speak cloud platform, where it can be monitored remotely through a non-line dashboard. This enables road maintenance authorities to identify damaged road locations quickly, monitor road conditions in real time, and prioritize repair work more efficiently. A working prototype of the proposed system was developed and experimentally tested under different road conditions. The results demonstrated reliable pothole detection, accurate GPS location tracking, and near real-time cloud data transmission with low processing latency. Overall, the proposed system shows that a simple, portable, and cost-effective combination of embedded sensors, GPS technology, wireless communication, and cloud computing can significantly improve road monitoring, enhance transportation safety, reduce vehicle damage, and contribute to the development of intelligent transportation systems and smart city infrastructure.
Key Words: Internet of Things (IoT), ESP32, Smart Pothole Detection, Vibration Sensor, GPS Tracking, Thing Speak, Road Condition Monitoring, Smart Transportation, Cloud Computing, Intelligent Road Infrastructure. 1.INTRODUCTION Over the last decade, the Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed from an emerging technology into a practical solution for solving real-world problems through intelligent sensing, wireless communication, and cloud computing. Everyday objects that once operated independently can now collect environmental data, communicate over the internet, and make decisions with minimal human intervention. This technological advancement has found applications in smart homes, healthcare, industrial automation, agriculture, transportation, and smart city development. Among these areas, intelligent transportation systems have gained significant attention because of their potential to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance infrastructure management. One of the major challenges faced by transportation authorities worldwide is the presence of potholes and damaged road surfaces. Poor road conditions not only reduce driving comfort but also increase the risk of road accidents, vehicle damage, traffic congestion, and higher maintenance costs. In many regions, road inspections are still performed manually by maintenance personnel, making the process time-consuming, labour- intensive, and in efficient. Since inspections are carried out periodically rather than continuously, many potholes remain undetected for long periods, resulting in further road deterioration and increased repair expenses. Drivers often encounter unexpected potholes before maintenance teams become aware of their existence, creating serious safety hazards. Recent advancements in embedded systems and wireless communication have made it possible to develop affordable, real-time road monitoring solutions. Development boards such as the ESP32 provide built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, sufficient processing capability, and multiple input/output interfaces at a relatively low cost. Similarly, sensors such as vibration sensors and GPS modules have become inexpensive and readily available, enabling students and researchers to develop practical IoT applications without requiring expensive hardware. Cloud platforms such as Thing Speak furthers implify data storage, visualization, and remote monitoring by allowing sensor data to be accessed through an online dashboard from anywhere with an internet connection. The proposed IoT Based Smart Pothole Detection and Alert System utilize sanESP32 microcontroller, a vibration sensor, a GPS module, and the Thing Speak cloud platform to automatically detect potholes and report their locations in real time. ©2026,IRJET|ImpactFactorvalue:8.315|ISO9001:2008CertifiedJournal|Page1