Potholes are the latest problem to be felled by sensors and algorithms

Holey grail IN THE grand scheme of things, potholes may seem like a trivial problem. But tell that to the many mayors and local politicians whose success is judged by their ability to keep roads free of them. One such, Alfonse D'Amato, an American politician, was nicknamed "Senator Pothole" by his grateful constituents. Most potholes start as small cracks in a road's surface, which allow water to seep in. In winter, when the water freezes, it expands, widening the crack. If the water repeatedly ...