Posted on Aug. 24, 2022

Surveying graduate Vaughn Golding has published research on using AI to help detect cracks in concrete that could be a game changer.

Golding’s research, conducted while he was studying a Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) at the University of Southern Queensland, may point to new ways to detect faults in concrete infrastructure. Golding’s research has been featured in the international academic journal, Sustainability.

“Infrastructure, such as buildings, bridges, and pavements, needs to be examined periodically to maintain reliability and structural health,” says Golding.

“At the moment, experienced inspectors need to examine the concrete in person. Sometimes their equipment is as simple as a ruler and a cherry picker. Inspection times are long, and the results rely on the inspectors’ empirical and subjective knowledge.

“This lengthy process can result in delays, and of course that can further compromise the infrastructure’s structural integrity.”

“Optical methods, using basic algorithms that detect edges, were only 60 or 70% accurate. Obviously there was room for improvement,” says Golding.

Golding’s original aim was to try to improve the measurement of crack depth using imagery. “I started looking into thermal imaging,” he says. “But then COVID hit, and I couldn’t get out and about to work in the field.”

Preprocessing images for better AI results

Improvements in sustainability

What’s next?

Click here to check the original article