Happy Tuesday, Atlanta!

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny and breezy. High around 92 and a low of 71.

Situational awareness: Atlanta Braves postseason single game tickets will go on sale at 1pm Thursday. More details can be found on the team's website.

🎂 Happy birthday to our members Mat Grisham, Marge Gildner and Karine Alleyne!

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Today's newsletter is 769 words, a 3-minute read.

The Atlanta Department of Transportation is turning to artificial intelligence to help keep track of which streets, sidewalks and signs are in need of repair.

Why it matters: With the guidance and oversight of humans, Cyvl's technology aims to help ATL DOT identify and repair those dreadful potholes we dodge during our daily commutes.

The latest: Cyvl uses sensors to map streets and sidewalks to log their conditions, which are evaluated and "gives us an idea of the conditions of our roadways," said Atlanta DOT commissioner Solomon Caviness.

How it works: Cyvl's technology is attached to government vehicles and uses data from high-resolution imaging and lidar to scan roads.

• Caviness told Axios it can also scan reflectivity on street signs and determine when they need to be replaced.
• The platform uses AI and can read the condition of roads and walkways, including differentiating between different types of cracks and what might need to be fixed, Axios' Chris Metinko reports.

What they're saying: "What this has done is given us a baseline to identify what needs to be improved, and based on that, we could be more efficient in how we spend our money, and establish where we start our improvements," Caviness said.

Zoom in: Cyvl's first scan in Atlanta was completed in 2024, and another was taken earlier this year.

• The traditional way of mapping DOT's assets would take up to a year, but the Cyvl technology cuts that time down to about three months, Caviness told Axios.

Context: Before incorporating Cyvl into its workflow, DOT crews would go out into the field with cameras and equipment to scan roads, then evaluate them using standards set by the American Public Works Association.

• Cyvl's technology allows for a more thorough scanning of the roads, Caviness said.
• After the 2024 scan of Downtown, Atlanta DOT crews resurfaced corridors in need of repair, resulting in a 60% drop in potholes and a 70% drop in potential potholes.

What we're watching: Caviness told Axios the DOT is also using AI to help with traffic signal timing and adjusting them based on pedestrian movements versus traffic.

• During the World Cup, the technology was used to adjust traffic signals to allow pedestrians more time to cross the street.

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Atlanta Public Schools wants community feedback on proposed new boundaries for students affected by its decision to close and repurpose several elementary schools starting in fall 2027.

Why it matters: With several schools set to close, APS has to redraw boundaries of surrounding schools to accommodate more students.

The latest: Public input sessions will be held at 6:30pm Sept. 24 at Cleveland, Continental Colony, Dunbar, F.L. Stanton, Parkside and Peyton Forest elementary schools.

• If you can't attend the meetings, you can take APS' school attendance zone survey through Friday, Sept. 18 on the district's website.

Learn more about the APS Forward 2040 plan here.

Sure, we're in meteorological fall and astronomical fall is next Tuesday, but summer hasn't gotten the memo just yet.

The National Weather Service 6-10 day outlook projects that high temperatures will remain in the 90s through late September.

In other words, we're still going to be roasting alive as we sip our favorite fall-themed caffeinated beverages.

The Stockbridge City Council has voted to remove Mayor Jayden Williams from office, months after Williams became the city's youngest-ever mayor. An attorney for the 23-year-old said they're "disappointed" by the outcome. (AJC)

🗳️ A PeachPol analysis found that 81 of Georgia's 236 legislative races are uncontested in November's general election, meaning over a million voters essentially have no say in who represents them in the Legislature.

⚖️ An attorney representing the owner of a miniature donkey named HeeHaw is suing a Cedartown police officer for allegedly fatally shooting the animal on Aug. 30. (Fox 5)

🤖 Election security experts are warning that the emergence of AI could exacerbate a flaw in Georgia's voting equipment that could let someone see how others voted. (AP)

🤒 Thomas is sick.

🙏🏽 Kristal hopes Thomas feels better soon and that his wife and son don't get sick.

This newsletter was edited by Crystal Hill.