Abstract
This paper describes, in the absence of sufficiently developed image recognition systems, a semi automated system for inventory collection where the operator, using an organised hierarchical database of inventory items and attributes is able to log inventory items from video. An expert system incorporating some of the road engineers knowledge is under development to improve the speed of data logging. Once an item has been identified, its position is automatically recorded in terms of its map co-ordinates (OSGR in the U.K.), derived from GPS satellite data and odometer/geocompass readings which are both recorded in real time on the soundtrack of the video tape. (A)