Title
Optic Systems Pilot Program Results - Citywide
Description
This report provides the Community Services and Education Subcommittee with an overview of the results of the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) Optic Systems pilot program. The six-month pilot program evaluated whether vehicle-mounted camera technology could supplement traditional field inspections for select property maintenance violations, improve operational efficiency and allow inspection staff to focus resources on more complex code enforcement activities.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
NSD's code enforcement and compliance team, housed in the Neighborhood Preservation Division, performs field inspections to identify and resolve violations of various City codes. The primary method used to achieve code compliance involves inspectors conducting in-person inspections and re-inspections of properties throughout Phoenix. The purpose of these inspections is to promote the health and safety of Phoenix residents and preserve property values by protecting neighborhoods from blight, deterioration and illegal land use activities.
In support of service innovation and improved service delivery, NSD initiated a six-month pilot program in January 2026 to determine whether augmenting traditional field inspections with vehicle-mounted camera-based technology could improve program effectiveness and create operational efficiencies in both field and administrative functions. The pilot was conducted in partnership with Optic Systems, a third-party contractor that utilizes 360-degree camera systems mounted on a passenger vehicle to document potential blight violations. Four specific violation types, typically visible from the street, were selected for inclusion in the pilot: litter and debris, overgrown or dead vegetation, non-dustproof parking and outdoor storage. The Optic Systems vehicle conducted scheduled weekly complaint-based inspections for properties in a limited area with open cases for the specific violation types, allowing staff to remotely review collected images and determine whether additional field response or enforcement action was necessary. For the pilot, NSD did not use these images for purposes of issuing citations, but to notify residents of violations on their property or document whether a violation was still present.
During the six-month pilot period, Optic Systems completed 2,162 inspections. Of the 2,162 inspections completed, 1,462, or approximately 68 percent, were determined by inspectors to contain observable violations that could be verified through the collected imagery, eliminating the need for an initial field inspection and allowing the case to proceed through the normal compliance process.
Additional findings include:
- Litter and debris violations were the easiest violation type to verify using Optics Systems imagery.
- Vegetation and non-dustproof parking violations were the most challenging violation types to verify remotely.
- Outdoor storage violations could be difficult to verify depending on the nature of the stored materials and their visibility from the public right-of-way.
- Video quality was generally sufficient for clearly visible violations; however, when zooming was required, image quality deteriorated and often necessitated physical field verification.
- Property visibility was occasionally affected by shadows, glare, vegetation, parked vehicles or camera angles.
The Optic Systems pilot program demonstrated that remote imaging technology has the potential to serve as a useful tool for supporting code compliance inspections and reducing the need for some initial field visits. However, the pilot also identified several limitations related to image quality, visibility conditions and the ability to verify certain violation types remotely. Optic Systems has indicated a willingness to improve its camera technology for consideration in the future. In conclusion, staff determined that improved image quality would be necessary before a potential department-wide implementation would be viable.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Cynthia Aguilar and the Neighborhood Services Department.