Project: Road Management Systems (RACAS)

RACAS® Condition Assessment for QLD Parks & Wildlife Service

Project Overview

Over a two-year partnership, SHEPHERD worked with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to assess and condition-rate more than 1,490 kilometres of unsealed road across 30+ national parks, islands, and remote conservation areas. QPWS now have a comprehensive, consistent view of their road assets – empowering better valuation, clearer access planning, and more targeted response in disaster-impacted zones.

Scope of Work

  • Road condition assessments for unsealed access tracks, park roads, and marine/island networks
  • Coverage included Stradbroke Island, Boodjamulla, Curtis Island, Thursday Island, Norfolk Island, and dozens of mainland park sites
  • Surveys conducted using RACAS®
  • Integration with Parks’ internal systems for revaluation and future maintenance programming

Key Stats

📍 1,490km surveyed over two years
📍 326km captured in 2025 alone
📍 30+ park and island locations
📍 1 consolidated condition dataset across the QPWS road network
📍 Condition ratings aligned with valuation needs and DRFA evidence

Project Outcomes

✅ Asset Revaluation Confidence
Detailed, consistent condition data for QPWS unsealed road assets ensured accurate and defendable comprehensive valuations.

✅ Maintenance & Capital Works Planning
Engineers and planners now have a clearer picture of where to invest in re-sheeting and repairs -especially across remote and seasonal access roads.

✅ Disaster Response & Recovery
In flood-impacted areas like Boodjamulla, RACAS® helped assess damage quickly after access was restored, supporting DRFA claims and fast-tracking recovery.

✅ Visibility Across the Organisation
From engineering to finance, QPWS staff now access a single source of truth for road condition -bridging gaps between technical teams and funding decisions.

📍 Project highlight:
A truly unique dataset capturing the scale and complexity of Queensland’s natural asset network-powered by RACAS®, delivered by local engineers, and trusted by QPWS.

RACAS® = Real Tech. Real Engineers. Real Results.

Gympie Regional Council’s Rapid Disaster Recovery with RACAS®

The Challenge: Immediate Assessment for Funding & Recovery

In December, just before Christmas, Gympie Regional Council faced a major challenge: heavy rainfall had severely impacted its 2,300km road network. With an urgent need to assess road conditions and secure Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), time was of the essence.

Traditional road inspections would have taken weeks, delaying funding applications and road repairs. Council needed a solution that was fast, precise, and efficient to ensure roads were restored as quickly as possible for the community.

The Solution: RACAS® & SHEPHERD’s Rapid Response

SHEPHERD deployed its cutting-edge RACAS® technology to rapidly assess the road network, capturing critical data that would inform Council’s recovery strategy.

Key Actions Taken:

  • Speedy Deployment: RACAS® teams were on-site within days, working through the holiday season to ensure rapid data collection.
  • Extensive Coverage: The survey began with the 1,000km unsealed road network on December 20, completed by January 9, and was followed by a full assessment of the 2,300km sealed road network, completed by January 26.
  • Data-Driven Insights: RACAS® Inspectors captured 3,000 Points of Interest (POIs) in just six days. This dataset was handed over to SHEPHERD’s Civil and Disaster team for immediate categorization.
  • Smart Categorization: The team reviewed all 3,000 POIs in one day, identifying:
    • 700 Emergent Work locations requiring immediate intervention.
    • 2,000 sites as potential Immediate Reconstruction Works (IRW) or Reconstruction of Essential Public Assets (REPA).

The Results: Faster Recovery, Smarter Funding Applications

With RACAS®, Gympie Regional Council received: ✅ Comprehensive evidence of rain-impacted roads for funding applications.
✅ Pre and post-event imagery to strengthen funding claims.
✅ GPS-located damage reports, allowing for precise interventions.
✅ Faster hazard mitigation, ensuring public safety.
✅ Priority in funding applications, getting ahead in the queue.

Community Benefits: Safer Roads, Faster Recovery

The impact of this rapid response extended beyond assessments:

  • Faster restoration of critical road infrastructure for residents.
  • Improved safety for motorists, with quicker hazard identification.
  • More efficient use of Council resources, saving time and money.
  • Stronger funding applications, accelerating disaster recovery funding approvals.

Why RACAS®? The Technology That Makes a Difference

RACAS® technology provides unmatched speed, accuracy, and efficiency in road condition assessments:

  • AI-supported inspections ensure precise identification of damage.
  • Real-time data visibility within two weeks.
  • Priority funding submissions within the first month.
  • Automated POI categorization, reducing manual workload.
  • Seamless GIS integration, allowing for instant mapping and reporting.

Testimonial: What Gympie Regional Council Had to Say

“SHEPHERD’s RACAS® technology provided Gympie Regional Council with an efficient and accurate assessment of our 2,300km road network following a recent rain event. Within days, their team captured 3,000 Points of Interest, allowing us to quickly identify Emergent Works and prioritise funding applications. Their rapid deployment and expertise have been invaluable in helping us get ahead in the recovery process.”

Partner with SHEPHERD for Faster, Smarter Disaster Recovery

When disaster strikes, RACAS® delivers real-time, evidence-based assessments, ensuring councils secure funding and restore roads faster.

Smarter Road Management with RACAS® – Quilpie Shire Council

Driving excellence in regional road management, the SHEPHERD team recently visited Quilpie Shire Council to deliver our comprehensive RACAS® road survey, condition assessment, and priority works program.

Over three engagements, we captured data from Quilpie’s vast road network, including 200 km of sealed roads and 1,854 km of unsealed roads. With this invaluable RACAS® data, combined with SHEPHERD’s expert analysis, Quilpie Shire Council gains:

  • Detailed Condition Profiles and Priority Works Programs
  • Side-by-Side Image Comparisons for tracking road deterioration and improvements
  • Evidence-Based Insights for future planning and benchmarking against other councils

As part of our commitment to supporting regional communities, SHEPHERD has also made a donation to the Quilpie Golf Club for the 2025 Quilpie Gold Open. It’s our way of giving back to the regions and fostering vibrant, connected communities.

A big thank you to the Quilpie Shire team, especially Eng Lim and Brian Weeks, for their dedication to maintaining sustainable, well-managed roads for their community.

Together, we’re building better roads and smarter solutions for regional Australia.

Here’s what our client thinks: 

Fantastic SHEPHERD – great work! Thanks for this robust data, we will be developing a 4-year rolling program for road maintenance and capital works, ensuring a proactive and sustainable approach to infrastructure management. Additionally, it enables us to prioritise and plan shovel-ready projects, making us well-positioned to secure external funding opportunities when they arise. 

Eng Hwa Lim (RPEng and RPEQ),  Director of Infrastructure Services Quilpie Shire Council

On the Road with RACAS® – Edward River Council

Driving excellence in asset management, our RACAS® Inspectors are enjoying their time in the Riverina region of New South Wales capturing 1,600kms of roads for Edward River Council.

From the accurate and affordable RACAS® data capture SHEPHERD will produce a Road Asset Condition Assessment of Council’s road network and present the results visually within our online RACAS® Hub.

RACAS®- Affordable | Practical | Powerful

On the Road with RACAS® – Tablelands Regional Council

Driving excellence in road asset management, our RACAS® Team have been assisting Tablelands Regional Council assess the condition of its 1,870km sealed and unsealed road network.

The Atherton Tablelands landscape offers stunning vistas – just another day in the office for our RACAS® Inspectors.

On the Road with RACAS® – Balonne Shire Council

Driving excellence in asset management, our RACAS® Team is assisting Balonne Shire Council assess the condition of its Transport Infrastructure Asset Class.

Impressed by last year’s demonstration of our RACAS® technology and all its smarts, Council engaged SHEPHERD to survey their unsealed, sealed and kerb roads as well as four Aerodromes.

We’re proud to be a part of Council’s road asset management improvement journey.

On the Road with RACAS® – Cassawary Coast Regional Council

Driving excellence in asset management, our RACAS® Inspectors are enjoying their time in the tropics capturing 743kms of Sealed Roads as well as 280kms of Kerb and Channel for Cassowary Coast Regional Council in far north Queensland.

This beautiful region of wide open spaces, tropical rainforests and pristine beaches has an average rainfall of 4 metres!

So the RACAS® Team is providing Council with the road condition assessment information they need to manage their network as well as ticking the box with pre-condition evidence for DRFA.

It pays to be prepared!