Urban Insights Without the Complexity
Low-Cost. High-Trust. Built for LGAs.
Our Director, Cameron Owen demonstrating Shellshock AI to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Local Government is Evolving
Your urban data capture systems should too, without requiring additional hardware, subscriptions, or risk.
But here are just a few problems:
- You’re surrounded by single-use sensors: One for cars. One for bikes. Another for people. None of them talk to each other. And you’re still missing half the story.
- Critical insights slip through the cracks: Boats. Off-path walkers. Scooters. Trailers. Unusual vehicle types. If they don’t go through the right strip, they don’t exist.
- Too many devices, too little flexibility: Shifting locations means relocating an entire network—dozens of boxes, cables, calibrations, approvals. It’s frustrating, slow, and expensive.
- You’re locked in and priced out: Need a small feature added? That’ll be a new device—or worse, a new contract. Your data? Trapped in a third-party platform you didn’t ask for.
- And your budget? It’s not a blank cheque: Councils are under pressure. And too many vendors treat your ratepayers like revenue streams, not communities.
What if you could deploy a single platform that adapts to new questions, moves with your priorities, and delivers real-time insight, without the overhead?
The Solution - Shellshock AI
The visual sensor solution councils asked for, because the market wasn’t listening.
Shellshock AI is a portable, hyper-secure visual sensor system that captures everything that matters—pedestrian movement, vehicles, bikes, boats and more—without capturing images or video.
- One device. Multi-purpose: No more installing a separate sensor for every transport mode or use case.
- Built to Government-grade standards: Shellshock meets the privacy, data, and network security requirements demanded by Australian Government departments, because it had to.
- Hyper-secure by design: All data is processed on-device. Government deployments send only anonymous metadata. No stored images. No video. No public trust issues.
- Deploy it anywhere. Move it when you need: Solar-ready, connectivity-flexible (4G/LoRa/WiFi), with simple pole or wall mounting.
- Expandable, not replaceable: Need a new insight? We send a new model remotely. No new hardware. No new installs.
- Rugged enough for Australia—and its residents: IP-rated, industrial-grade housing. Designed to withstand dust, rain, heat, and the strongest force known to this world: public curiosity.
Made for councils. Built in Australia. Powered by trust, not gimmicks.
Hear What Users Have To Say
We know how rare it is for government teams to go on record about a product. However, Shellshock AI was co-designed and co-funded by the local government, for the local government. So when councils speak up, it’s because it works.
These aren't paid endorsements or marketing spin—just honest reflections from the people it was built for.
"Working with SAPHI has provided us with robust, real-time data processing at the source, meeting our privacy requirements and significantly improving our asset optimization and service management capabilities."
Daniel Hartin | Lake Macquarie City Council
"Integrating Shellshock AI into our framework has greatly enhanced our asset management capabilities. With Shellshock AI, we've seen marked improvements in visualising pedestrian flows and our Marine traffic patterns, which has been instrumental in optimising the Local Ports asset management strategies."
Lilja Sigurpals | Glenelg Shire Council
More Examples of Shellshock in Action
Below are two further demonstrations of Shellshock AI being used to address specific government challenges.
The image below shows a post shared earlier this year by the Hunter and Central Coast, highlighting their use of five Shellshock AI systems to support investment planning and enhance public spaces.
What Can it Do?
Shellshock AI is redefining how councils gather operational insight—without the usual risk, cost, or complexity.
With one rugged, portable device, Shellshock captures multiple data points—vehicles, people, micro-mobility, heat risk, and more—replacing entire networks of single-use sensors.
It’s how smart councils are reducing cost, derisking decisions, and unlocking the insights they need to plan, maintain, and invest with confidence.
Here’s where it’s already making an impact:
Click on the '+' to expand.
Shellshock AI provides hard data that councils can use to secure and defend funding applications, from federal programs to regional development grants.
- Demonstrate need with real usage data, not estimates
- Validate outcomes of funded projects for stronger acquittals
- Build evidence for future infrastructure, safety, and activation proposals
- Strengthen your case with quantifiable metrics that show real community benefit
Shellshock AI provides councils with the data necessary to transition from routine scheduling to real-time, needs-based servicing, resulting in time, cost, and effort savings.
- Maintain sports facilities based on actual community use
- Optimise SQUD trap servicing and reduce environmental risk
- Track boat ramp use to prioritise maintenance during peak periods
- Understand park usage to allocate security and upgrade budgets
- Reduce waste collection costs with activity data
Shellshock AI supports councils in protecting natural spaces while improving visitor access and safety.
- Monitor wildlife activity without intrusion using both visual and audio AI to identify species
- Track visitor volumes to guide maintenance and manage risk
- Assess trail conditions for timely repairs and upgrades
- Protect sensitive areas by directing resources where they’re needed most
Shellshock AI helps councils run safer, smarter events with real-time crowd insights.
- Track movement and density to optimise layouts and staffing
- Plan facilities based on actual foot traffic, not assumptions
- Assess impact of events and nightlife for funding and urban planning
- Strengthen safety through proactive crowd flow management
Shellshock AI helps councils measure the real impact of tourism—so you can invest, plan, and promote with confidence.
- Track visitor influx to evaluate campaign effectiveness
- Match infrastructure to seasonal peaks and site use
- Support local traders with insights on foot traffic trends
- Monitor camping areas and manage natural asset use
- Track surf activity to balance tourism with environmental care
Shellshock AI gives councils the data needed to design safer, more efficient roads, paths, and public spaces—without guesswork.
- Map traffic flow to reduce congestion and guide maintenance
- Track pathway use to improve signage, lighting, and connectivity
- Understand public transport demand to optimise routes and schedules
- Identify risk zones and proactively enhance safety with real data
Shellshock AI gives local businesses access to real-world foot traffic insights—helping them optimise staffing, time promotions, and improve sales performance.
- Know peak hours to adjust operations and staffing
- Target promotions when footfall is highest
- Link traffic to sales to guide layout and inventory
- Plan activations around real community movement
- Share data to inform council-led infrastructure planning
No Comparison: Shellshock vs Traditional IoT Networks
Most IoT systems promise a lot, but require separate devices for every use case, complex integrations, and ongoing costs that blow out fast.
Shellshock AI replaces dozens of these systems with one flexible, secure platform.
In many LGAs, just 5–10 Shellshock units can support an entire community’s data needs—across transport, parks, waste, events, and more.
FEATURE DESCRIPTION | SAPHI | Typical IoT Systems |
Multi-purpose insight (people, vehicles, bikes, thermal, more) | ✅ | ❌ |
Works without internet | ✅ | ❌ |
Works without mains power | ✅ | ✅ |
Easily redeployable across projects | ✅ | ❌ |
Co-designed by Australian Councils | ✅ | ❌ |
Low total cost of ownership | ✅ | ❌ (High CapEx + OpEx) |
Integrates into your existing dashboards | ✅ | ❌ (Platform lock-in common) |
Add new capabilities via remote update | ✅ | ❌ (New parameter = new device) |
Australian-owned and supported | ✅ | ❌ (Often offshore-based) |
Built tough to withstand public curiosity | ✅ | ❌ |
Additional Use Cases
Shellshock AI helps councils manage movement, safety, and space across multiple environments:
Click '+' icon to expand
Shellshock AI helps councils monitor and manage vehicle behaviour across local roads, parks, and shared zones.
- Estimate vehicle speed in real-time, without costly road loops or radars
- Identify speeding patterns in school zones, shared spaces, or local roads
- Support enforcement and education programs with objective data
- Track movement trends to inform traffic calming, signage, and upgrades
- Enable geofenced monitoring in sensitive areas like waterfronts, town centres, or pedestrian corridors
Case Study - Sulphur Pad | Incitec Pivot
"SAPHI made my idea into a reality and overcame the challenges set. A big thank you to Cameron and Isaac from Saphi."
Dellis Irwin | Processing Engineer at Incitec Pivot Fertilisers
At Incitec Pivot’s sulphur pad operations, the team faced frequent fire risks. Their existing thermal imaging system constantly triggered false alarms—mainly due to heavy machinery exhaust—making it unreliable and disruptive.
The Challenge Sounds Familiar: Councils managing transfer stations, depots, and waste facilities face similar risks. Spot fires from smouldering waste or equipment can escalate quickly, and most off-the-shelf thermal systems struggle in complex, high-traffic environments.
The Shellshock Solution: Our team deployed Shellshock Thermal with custom-trained AI models to distinguish genuine threats from non-critical heat sources. The result?
- False alerts eliminated
- Real risks detected early
- Personnel and vehicle tracking added for on-site safety
What this means for councils: Whether it’s a rural tip or a large transfer station, Shellshock Thermal gives you industrial-grade fire detection that actually works in the field, without needing constant manual review or expensive oversight.
The Outcome
- Always-on fire watch—without needing extra staff or manual patrols
- Smarter, earlier intervention, especially in unmanned or low-traffic zones
- No more blind spots—Shellshock Thermal monitors continuously, even at night or in harsh weather
- Reduced False Alerts: Accurate detection minimised distractions
- Confidence in compliance and insurance coverage, with proof that risks are being actively managed
Shellshock AI helps councils keep critical tools, equipment, and materials where they belong—and in use.
- Track high-value items like trailers, generators, and plant gear within the facility
- Prevent loss or theft by geofencing depots, sheds, or high-risk storage areas
- Spot underused assets to improve resource planning across teams or sites
- Get alerts when equipment is moved unexpectedly or left idle
Whether it’s a shovel or a skid steer, Shellshock helps councils know what’s in use, what’s sitting idle, and what needs attention.
Shellshock AI helps councils maintain safe working zones in depots, workshops, and operational yards—without relying on constant manual supervision.
- Ensure staff and contractors stay within designated safe areas
- Prevent unauthorised access to chemical stores, heavy equipment bays, or high-voltage zones
- Trigger real-time alerts when people or vehicles enter restricted or hazardous zones
- Use geofencing and AI to enforce safety protocols automatically
- Reduce incidents and improve compliance with WHS obligations through proactive monitoring
From shared yards to unmanned compounds, Shellshock adds a smart safety layer councils can rely on.
From depots to waste sites, Shellshock AI helps councils protect public infrastructure before damage is done, not just after.
And it’s simple: Shellshock integrates directly into your existing camera systems.
- Detect unauthorised access in real time, not after the fact
- Identify suspicious behaviour near high-risk areas like fuel stores, equipment yards, and gated compounds
- Send instant alerts to rangers, depot managers, or security teams for early intervention
- Run 24/7 without needing internet, perfect for isolated or unstaffed facilities
The result? Fewer break-ins, lower risk exposure, and stronger protection of ratepayer-funded assets, without needing to rip and replace a single cable.
What Makes Us So Unique
You know what matters today—safety, efficiency, service. But what about next year? When needs shift, funding priorities change, or expectations evolve?
To meet the unknown needs of tomorrow, you need flexibility, and that’s precisely what Shellshock AI delivers. It’s built to adapt, scale, and evolve—so your council is ready for whatever comes next, without reinvesting from scratch.
You Can Change What It Detects
Shellshock AI is designed to adapt. As your needs change, Shellshock updates what insights it captures to match. All done remotely.
Why It Matters: When new insights are needed, we deploy new AI models remotely to your existing Shellshock units. No new hardware, no site visits, no downtime. Just new insights streaming in.
One Device. Multiple Insights.
Shellshock AI can monitor multiple parameters at once, from vehicles, boats and pedestrians to thermal risk and equipment movement, etc.
Why It Matters: You don’t need a separate device for every insight. Shellshock captures them all in parallel, reducing infrastructure, cost, and complexity, with just one unit per site.
Secure Connectivity Anywhere
Shellshock AI uses edge computing, which means all data is processed on the device itself, not in the cloud. It doesn’t store or transmit any video or images. Only the insights, like counts, are sent.
Think of it like this: You’re standing on a street, counting cars. As each one passes, you phone your team and say, “Add three more cars to the tally.” They get the number, but they can’t see what you are looking at right now. That’s exactly how Shellshock works.
And, with multiple connection options, it stays connected even in remote or signal-poor areas.
Why It Matters: You get real-time data without ever storing or sharing images. No footage. No privacy risk. Just secure, local intelligence—built for councils, built for trust.
Trusted. Built for Government.
Shellshock AI has been deployed across local and state government projects nationwide. Co-designed with councils, it’s purpose-built to meet real government needs—secure, flexible, and field-tested.
Why It Matters: You’re not trialling new tech. You’re investing in a system already delivering value in communities just like yours.
Solar Compatible
Shellshock AI can be deployed completely off-grid with a compact solar kit—no mains power, trenching, or external infrastructure needed.
Why It Matters: Perfect for parks, trails, depots, or remote sites—just mount it, power up, and start collecting data. No electrical work. No delays. Just insight, anywhere.
Your Data. Always.
The data Shellshock AI captures is 100% yours—permanently. There are no paywalls, no lockouts, and no hidden conditions. You have full access to your historical data at any time.
Why It Matters: Even if your need for Shellshock changes, your data remains available, exportable, and under your control. It's your asset—built on your investment, and yours to use however and whenever you choose.
Streamlined Procurement
Shellshock AI’s low-cost means councils can typically procure without lengthy processes requiring excessive admin. We’re also pre-registered on various procurement portals (e.g. BuyNSW, Localbuy etc.), making Shellshock easy to engage through trusted channels.
Why It Matters: You save time, reduce admin, and stay compliant—so your team can focus on outcomes, not paperwork.
The 'Why' Behind Shellshock
Our team made its name developing advanced AI imaging systems for some of the toughest environments in Australia—mining, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure.
We watched as councils were sold overhyped 'smart' devices by companies charging premium prices for tech that barely worked, locked them into inflexible contracts, and vanished when support was needed.
That’s when we knew something had to change.
Click the '+' icon below to read the story of how Shellshock came to be
We kept seeing the same story, just with different names on the box.
Basic sensors, rebranded a dozen ways. Systems that looked slick on paper but failed to deliver. Councils—especially regional ones—are being charged eye-watering prices for tech that barely worked, couldn’t scale, and came with little support once the invoice was paid.
It felt like watching money get poured into a hole. Over and over again.
When we sat down with Lake Macquarie City Council—who manage 648 km² of one of the most diverse LGAs in the country—we agreed: enough was enough. There had to be a better way to get reliable, useful data—without the frustration, waste, or risk.
That conversation sparked what would become Shellshock AI: A visual sensor platform co-designed and co-funded by local government, built to give councils what they actually need, not what a vendor wants to sell.
Lake Macquarie City Council covers 648 km²
Before settling on the coast, our founders—and most of our team—came from the kinds of councils that rarely make the headlines: Mudgee. Tamworth. Dubbo.
Our Founders (from Left to Right) Eric Johns (Mudgee), Cameron Owen (Tamworth), Liam Manning (Dubbo
We grew up in communities where council crews didn’t just build roads and manage parks—they kept the whole place running.
We saw firsthand what it’s like to support a growing population with a tight budget, a stretched team, and a community that rightly expects a lot. Every dollar mattered. Every staff hour counted. Every project had to prove its worth.
That’s why building Shellshock hit close to home.
Commissioning Shellshock AI at a council-owned recycling centre in NSW
We didn’t want to create another system that only the big cities could afford—or that burned out after a year and left councils picking up the pieces.
We built Shellshock to work for the places we grew up in.
We grew up in regional councils. We know the constraints, the resource juggling, the public scrutiny, and the deep pride the council staff have in building great communities.
That’s why Shellshock was built to work whether your ratepayer base is a million or a thousand. No gimmicks. No lock-ins. Just clear, secure, actionable data that helps you:
- Plan investments smarter
- Run better events
- Secure grants
- Show value to your community
Everyone deserves access to the tools that help councils do their best work. Shellshock AI exists to make that possible.
FAQs
Find answers to the most common questions we hear from councils below.
Click the '+' icon to expand.
Answer: No.
In Government Mode, Shellshock AI does not record, store, or transmit images or video. Nothing anyone can trace back to a person. Just clean, real-time data you can trust. It uses on-device AI to analyse what it sees, but never stores or sends images or video.
How to visualise it?
Imagine sending a staff member to a busy street to manually count what goes past. After observing for a while, they call the office and say: “100 cars, 5 buses, 23 bikes, 49 people.” The office logs the numbers, but they never see what the person saw. There’s no footage, no photos—just the final tally.
That’s exactly how Shellshock works. It replaces that staff member with AI, automatically counting people, vehicles, bicycles, and more in real-time. It never gets tired, distracted, or overwhelmed—and it can track multiple things at once.
And just like that phone call, only the summary is sent. No images. No video. No privacy concerns. Just the numbers you need—securely, and in real time.
Answer: No.
Shellshock eliminates the need for multiple single-purpose devices such as car counters, bike loops, people sensors, etc., with a single, flexible unit.
In fact, one of our largest deployments comes from a council with a ratepayer base of just 19,000. Shellshock is designed to be accessible to all councils, whether regional, urban, or remote.
Most councils are able to deliver on their initiatives with just 5–10 units.
Reach out for a tailored quote.
Answer: Yes.
Yes. Shellshock units are designed to be portable and redeployable. They’re solar-powered, pole-mounted, and network-flexible. A unit can be moved in under an hour—no trenching, no IT team required. Once relocated, our team simply reconfigures the sensor remotely, and you're good to go.
Answer: Yes.
We simply send a new AI model to your existing unit, remotely. No new hardware. No site visit. No reinstall. You can shift from counting bikes to detecting trailers or pedestrians—or all at once—all with the same device. We simply deploy a new AI model remotely.
Answer: No.
Shellshock is platform-agnostic. You can export the data, push it into your existing systems, or use our simple dashboards—whatever suits your team. Your data is always yours and remains accessible even if your subscription ends.
Answer: Yes.
Yes. Shellshock uses edge computing, which means all data is processed on the device itself. Even if connectivity drops, it continues capturing insights and securely stores the data until transmission resumes.
Answer: Yes.
Shellshock units are solar-ready, allowing for full off-grid operation. Ideal for parks, trails, remote depots, or temporary deployments—no trenching, no cabling, no mains power connection required.
Answer: Yes.
Shellshock’s AI models are trained and configured to suit the specifics of your sites—from layout and lighting to activity patterns. This site-specific calibration gives the system a significant accuracy advantage, making it far more reliable than traditional IoT devices in real-world conditions.
While many off-the-shelf IoT counters achieve modest accuracy under ideal conditions, Shellshock delivers high-confidence classifications (e.g. pedestrian vs bike vs trailer) in real-world, dynamic environments, with fewer false counts and missed detections.
Answer: Ongoing Support.
All systems include :
- System health monitoring
- Local & remote database backup
- Fault diagnosis
- Data cost management
- Help desk support
- Security and permissions management
- Software updates
- Documentation maintenance
- Drop-out recovery
- Service support enhancements
- Performance monitoring
- Bug monitoring and management
What's The Process?
Our process is designed to prove value before a cent is invested. See the steps below.
Click the '+' icon to expand.
What We Do: Identify your core challenges, data gaps, and opportunities for automation across key council operations.
How It Works:
- Engage with relevant stakeholders (infrastructure, environment, waste, parks, events, etc.)
- Review current systems, workflows, and sensors already in place
- Pinpoint where AI sensing can reduce manual effort, improve compliance, and unlock new insights
Why It Matters: A fast, free discovery phase to assess if Shellshock AI aligns with your goals—before any commitment is made. Perfect for councils needing clarity before investing.
What We Do: Give you a hands-on look at Shellshock AI in action—tailored to your use case.
How It Works:
- Demonstrate relevant AI models (e.g. people counting, vehicle types, fire detection, etc.)
- Show real-time processing from edge devices—no footage, just live metadata
- Walk through dashboards or data outputs (if applicable)
- Answer technical, operational, and privacy-related questions
Why It Matters: You get full transparency and confidence in how the system works—before any rollout begins. Councils see exactly what’s captured, what’s not, and how the data flows.
What We Do: Deploy Shellshock AI to a small number of locations—parks, roads, depots, or events—to validate its performance in real council conditions and ensure the insights are usable from day one.
How It Works:
- Set clear metrics tied to your objectives (e.g. foot traffic, vehicle types, fire risk)
- Use existing infrastructure where possible, or supply modular, solar-ready units for fast deployment
- Integrate data into your existing systems (GIS, asset management, etc.), or provide standalone dashboards
- Monitor insights in real time while collaborating with your teams for operational alignment
Why It Matters: You get immediate, measurable value with minimal investment—and prove that Shellshock integrates seamlessly into how your council already works.
What We Do: Fine-tune Shellshock’s AI models to reflect your specific environments—then capture results in a format your internal teams can easily review and assess.
How It Works:
- Use live performance data and on-the-ground feedback to optimise detection accuracy
- Test against site-specific variables—lighting, traffic flow, environmental conditions
- Package outcomes into a summary and insight pack for internal review and decision-making
Why It Matters: You get evidence of performance in your own environment, helping you build internal support and secure buy-in for broader rollout—without guesswork.
What We Do: Develop a deployment plan based on your specific sites, objectives, and constraints—whether it's a park, waste facility, road corridor, or event precinct.
How It Works:
- Define which insights matter most (e.g. crowd counts, vehicle mix, thermal risk, trail usage)
- Assess power, connectivity, and mounting options at each location
- Identify where Shellshock will integrate with existing platforms or reporting workflows
- Establish practical timeframes for staged rollout
Why It Matters: Ensures every install delivers immediate value with minimal operational impact—no surprises, no guesswork, no unnecessary hardware.
What We Do: Deploy Shellshock AI across all selected sites—fully integrated, fully supported, and ready for long-term value.
How It Works:
- Conduct a site-wide rollout aligned to operational and infrastructure requirements
- Integrate data into council workflows, platforms, and reporting systems
- Deliver comprehensive training for field teams, planners, and reporting officers
- Provide structured support, remote monitoring, and regular AI model updates to meet evolving needs
- Support grant acquittals and impact reporting with ready-to-use data exports
Why It Matters: You maximise value without operational disruption—ensuring ongoing safety, efficiency, and reporting capability, backed by a system that evolves as you do.
Ready to Explore What’s Possible?
If this sounds like the kind of system your council needs—flexible, proven, and built for the realities of public infrastructure—we’d love to talk.
