As America’s infrastructure ages, the need to monitor and repair buildings, bridges and roads becomes more pressing. To address this problem, researchers at the University of Central Florida are developing virtual reality and artificial intelligence tools to better monitor the health of buildings and bridges.
One of the technologies, called computer vision, can help inspectors spot cracks that are invisible to the naked eye. Using a head-mounted device connected to sensors attached to the building, users can see the vibration, deformation and movement of support beams inside the structure. Through mixed reality technology, users can interact with the cracks they find and use predictive tools to see how they may develop.
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Another technique, called generative adversarial networks, can predict how newer structures might crack or shift over time based on archived data about older structures. By generating synthetic data and applying algorithms and methods, researchers can see what a structure looks like when it is damaged.
The research team also developed an immersive visualization system that uses virtual reality and augmented reality for "virtual tours." It generates a computer-simulated real-world environment and overlays augmented reality details on it, showing the user the status of a building or bridge in real time.
Finally, the collective intelligence framework technology uses artificial intelligence to speed up the inspection process. Inspectors use head-mounted devices or handheld devices to scan damaged areas and analyze them in real time. This saves inspectors time in manual measurements and provides an understanding of the condition of the building.
The researchers said these smart structural technologies are already applicable to engineering standards, but will need to be reviewed by various committees before being used in routine engineering and inspections. These technologies are considered an important part of the U.S. infrastructure, helping people recover from natural disasters and improving the resilience of communities, roads and buildings.