City of Burlington, NJ

In Burlington, road repairs were often guided by opinion rather than facts, leaving residents questioning why some streets were chosen over others. As one of the township’s engineers, Pennoni used Cyvl’s roadway data to provide a comprehensive view of the streets and infrastructure—giving local leaders a clear path for planning and an easy way to show residents how decisions are made.

The Challenge: Decisions Without Data

For years, Burlington’s road repair decisions were made in a way familiar to many municipalities—based less on objective need and more on perception and politics. Residents questioned why one street was repaved while another was left behind, and public works lacked the tools to defend their choices. Burlington needed a better process rooted in data and transparency.

As Public Works Director, Bill Curry, explained:

Let’s just say that it was basically done on popularity... It was not done by any scientific process. It was very, it was based on opinions and influence.

— Bill Curry, Director of Public Works, City of Burlington

The Turning Point: Exploring Technology

When Curry joined the city, he quickly recognized the need for modernization. The department was still heavily paper-based, plagued by communication gaps, and carrying a reputation for being slow to deliver.

The city began adopting new tools—starting with a work order system—and soon expanded to explore how technology could reshape planning and decision making. That’s when Burlington, with guidance from Pennoni, discovered Cyvl.

Technology seemed to be the tool that could help address the challenges we were experiencing. We needed to figure out how to make better decisions and do planning better—and that’s where Cyvl came in.

— Bill Curry, Director of Public Works, City of Burlington

The Solution: A Clearer Picture of Every Road

Cyvl’s mobile LiDAR and AI-powered platform gave Burlington a comprehensive, objective assessment of every road and right-of-way asset in the city. In just two days of data collection and one month of processing, the city received a full pavement condition assessment, a right-of-way asset inventory (including signs, ramps, and obstructions), and GIS-compatible outputs that integrated seamlessly into existing systems.

What stood out immediately was the visual clarity:

It’s the visual. This gave us the ability to visually see in a short period of time exactly what we were talking about and get others to look at it. It’s a stronger platform for communication.

— Bill Curry, Director of Public Works, City of Burlington

With all roadway data collected in just two days and processed within a month, Burlington had, for the first time, a complete, unbiased picture of its transportation network, fully integrated into its GIS system.

The Impact: Data That Builds Confidence

1. Stronger Case for Funding:

• Cyvl’s data has anchored Burlington’s last two years of roadway funding decisions, ensuring resources go where they’re needed most.

2. Transparency that Builds Trust:

• Data from multiple departments was consolidated into a unified, accurate asset inventory, creating a single source of truth as of January 2025.

3. Maximized Value Across Departments:

• From police to public works, multiple divisions are using the same data to improve safety and efficiency.

4. Credibility with Taxpayers:

• City leaders can justify every decision with objective data, strengthening public confidence and support.

Results That Matter

Burlington’s move to data-driven planning is already paying off. Cyvl collected all roadway data in just two days and delivered results within a month, giving the city a foundation for two consecutive years of funding programs. Most importantly, an objective process that residents can trust.

As Bill Curry states, “It gives us the ability and justification for the actions that you’ve taken. At the end of the day, that’s what matters — making the best decisions in a fair and just manner.”