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SwissInspect, a start-up from Swiss technology institute cole Polytechnique Fdrale (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland has developed a novel bridge-inspection system that combines structural engineering with drone technology, artificial intelligence and computer vision. SwissInspect is the result of research at Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics Laboratory (EESD) in collaboration with Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) on the image-based inspection and monitoring of structural elements. The company plans to test its system on around 50 bridges in Switzerland, according to a press release.

Switzerlands bridges are currently inspected every two to five years using conventional visual inspection. But SwissInspect hopes to change all that with its new technology, which provides more objective evaluations and could be applied to other types of structures like tunnels, dams and buildings. The companys approach combines structural engineering, computer vision, and artificial intelligence to make infrastructure inspections safer, more objective, and efficient.

The startup has recently won a CHF 300,000 InnoSuisse grant to inspect around 50 bridges across Switzerland over a period of 18 months. SwissInspect has also just won theVenture Kickgrant of CHF 10000, which will help the startup develop its business. This project involves the Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics Laboratory (EESD) and the Geodetic Engineering Laboratory (TOPO), both at EPFLs School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), providing outstanding expertise on image-based surveys using drones (UAVs).

Our goal at SwissInspect is to give engineers and infrastructure owners a system they can use to plan maintenance and repair work more efficiently, says Amir Rezaie, who holds a PhD in civil engineering and is the CEO of SwissInspect. We do not want to be a data collector or a 3D visualization platform, we transform raw data into actionable information. From images, they detect various types of damage, including cracking, spalling, efflorescence, rust, etc. They also provide a physics-based classification of damage, which is crucial information to evaluate the structural health of a bridge.

When it comes to inspection, traceability is critical, which we seek to provide by creating the digital twin of bridges, says Amir Rezaie. He also points out that in the future, other sources of information could be added to the digital twins, such as data from sensors installed directly on a bridge.Another advantage of SwissInspects system relative to visual methods is that the technology allows inspections to be carried out more frequently. Thats especially important in light of climate change, as infrastructure will be increasingly exposed to alternating periods of flooding and drought as well as higher relative humidity levels that could fasten the degradation of materials.

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Artificial intelligence to be used for inspecting bridges - Innovation Origins