This is a guest blog by Nick Heim, P.E.
As engineering professionals, we have a responsibility to protect the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
Part of this duty entails inspection and maintenance of existing infrastructure.
Some jurisdictions require inspection and maintenance at periodic intervals to ensure that the public is kept safe while in and around these assets.
For example, New York City Local Laws 11 (Façade Inspection) and 126 (Parking Garage Inspection) specify time frames over which assets must be inspected and repairs implemented.
Today, I would like to summarize some of our top episodes from the AECTECH podcast, all of which relate to the use of technology to maintain existing assets and infrastructure.
If you find these brief summaries interesting, check out the full-length episodes!
1. AECT 009: Using AI and Digital Twins for Industry Asset Management
In this episode, I talk to Dr. Ali Khaloo, Ph.D., the CEO and co-founder of Aren, about what digital twins are and how you can bring digital twins and artificial intelligence to infrastructure asset management.
Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Using AI and Digital Twins for Industry Asset Management:
- The current state of the built environment and the infrastructure is a big issue. We need innovators to step up and help find solutions for this issue, propose them to the asset owners, and show them the benefits they will get from them. It will take a lot of collaboration between tech companies and engineering firms for the solutions to work properly. The best way to move the industry in the right direction is by showing the asset owners how new technologies will benefit them for years to come.
- A digital twin is a digital representation of a physical asset. The digital twin must reflect what happens to the physical asset, which makes a digital twin a great way to do testing, monitoring, and maintenance simulations. In asset management, the digital model is the reference point of the physical asset to closely monitor how it has changed over time.
- AI is here to augment processes, not replace engineers. It is here to place engineers in a situation where they have access to all the information needed to perform accurate engineering judgments with less guesstimating. Letting AI take over more and more of the repetitive tasks will free up time for engineers to be more productive. It is all about doing the job faster, getting more things done safely, and making more money for the company.
- Engineers must be more open to technology and educate themselves on the latest and greatest things that are happening in industry. Realize that all the cool technology that is out there in the world that everyone gets excited about can be used in the engineering industry daily.
2. AECT 023: A New Approach to Improving Road Safety and Efficiency with AI Road Assessment
In this episode, I talk with Dan Porcaro, VP of Sales and Partnerships at RoadBotics (now part of Michelin), about the fascinating world of AI road assessment technology. He also talks about the importance of partnerships with civil engineering firms and shares some valuable advice for engineers looking to leverage AI and innovative technologies.
Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Improving Road Safety and Efficiency with AI Road Assessment:
- Since 2016, the robotics initiative at Carnegie Mellon has developed a user-friendly AI solution that generates pavement condition ratings from smartphone-captured videos, helping communities identify urgent road repairs (rating 5) and excellent road conditions (rating 1).
- Democratizing data collection through a smartphone-mounted solution and AI analysis maximizes value-added time for engineers without replacing them. Consider leveraging this approach to enhance your capabilities.
- The approach of using AI for tasks like crack and pothole counting enables engineers to focus on their core expertise. By efficiently covering the entire road network through video collection, it ensures consistency and saves time and money compared to manual sampling.
- When leveraging AI and innovative technologies for infrastructure work, clarify your goals, explore case studies, and consider the reliability of the organization behind the technology.
3. AECT 026: How Drones and AI Are Revolutionizing Facade Inspection
In this episode, I talk with Jonathan Ehrlich, the chief operating officer of T2D2, an artificial intelligence asset inspection software platform used by engineers, architects, and building owners to make their inspection workflow faster, cheaper, and more accurate. Jonathan is an expert in the integration of drones and artificial intelligence in façade inspection, and in this episode, we discuss the benefits, challenges, and prospects of using these cutting-edge technologies.
Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Improving Road Safety and Efficiency with AI Road Assessment:
- The building and façade inspection industry is growing due to aging infrastructure, changing building methodologies, and climate change. Façade inspection is important for safety, and over fifteen cities mandate it periodically. Regulators are increasingly interested in how to keep the public safe while embracing technology.
- New York City has multiple laws that require periodic façade inspection, including the Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP), which mandates that every building above six stories has its façade inspected by a qualified inspector every five years. Similar laws are popping up around the country.
- The combination of drones and human inspectors is the best way to conduct a comprehensive and accurate façade inspection. Drones can provide a bird’s-eye view of the façade, while human inspectors can conduct physical inspections of areas that are difficult or impossible for drones to reach. This allows for a more complete assessment of the façade’s condition and can help to ensure the safety of buildings.
- AI can be used to identify localized conditions on a façade, but it cannot yet provide contextual analysis or interpretation of the data. This is a task that still requires human engineers. AI can automate many of the tasks involved in façade inspection, such as image analysis and data processing, freeing up human engineers to focus on more complex tasks. AI is not a replacement for human engineers, as they still need to be involved in the inspection process.
About the Author Nick Heim, P.E.
Nick Heim, P.E., is a civil engineer with six years of experience in the repair and restoration of existing structures. Nick is also the host of the AEC Engineering and Technology Podcast (“AECTECH”) and brings valuable insights and expertise to listeners worldwide.
Nick’s interests lie at the intersection between the built world and technology, and he can be found looking for the ever-changing answer to the question, “How can we do this better?” He can be found on LinkedIn, producing content about use of technologies in his Civil Engineering career and small business.
We would love to hear any questions you might have or stories you might share about how applications of technology can enhance public safety.
Please leave your comments, feedback or questions in the section below.
To your success,
Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
