Embracing The Infrastructure Renaissance with Artificial Intelligence
How AI is transforming the way we build and manage cities of the future
Manual, human-powered processes have stunted the development of resilient and innovative cities. Traditional infrastructure development and maintenance brings burdensome costs and sometimes decades-long timelines. But AI and associated technologies promise seismic transformation.
The world is on the cusp of a new era where sustainable and resilient infrastructure is the norm, and cost-effective, speedy development is possible. Nowhere is this transformation more promising than in water resource management and building and infrastructure construction.
Developing Resilient Water Infrastructure
Droughts and floods and, in turn, harmful water pollution events will only increase in the coming decades as the planet warms. Existing AI tools can help monitor, conserve and optimize water resources.
Managing and Monitoring Resources:
In times of extreme drought, AI can help leaders make tough decisions about resource allocation and quality management. For example, the use of long short-term memory (LSTM) and convolutional neural networks (CNN) in South Korea’s Nakdong River Basin to simulate water quality and water levels. The models accurately predicted water quality parameters, helping water resource managers better understand and govern supply.
Optimizing Agriculture:
Water scarcity also poses a significant threat to agriculture—which accounts for over 70% of global water use.
Optimizing irrigation practices for sustainable water resource management is possible with precision agriculture powered by AI tools. These tools can analyze data from soil moisture sensors, weather forecasts, satellite or drone imagery and plant characteristics to determine precise irrigation requirements.
Designing for the Future:
The U.S. built much of its drinking water infrastructure before 1950. These outdated utilities are completely unprepared for modern-day population fluctuations and the threat of rising sea levels and flood risk. One AI-powered solution to this problem is generative design, which harnesses computational algorithms and artificial intelligence to rapidly generate optimized drinking water infrastructure that consider a range of future variables, such as population change and climate risk. For the development of new and upgrade of existing infrastructure, generative design is a cost-effective and proactive solution.
Designing Cities of the Future
AI is also revolutionizing building construction and urban development, from initial design to ongoing maintenance. Using algorithms, cities can speed the pace of innovation while enhancing building and infrastructure quality and resilience
Streamline Design and Planning: AI is redefining the design and planning stages of construction. Advanced software platforms like Naska.AI leverage on-site data to automate critical processes like quality control and progress tracking. This not only reduces project risks and uncertainties but also expedites decision-making, enabling more efficient resource allocation and timely adjustments to project plans.
Boost Efficiency: AI’s transformative potential extends to construction projects’ execution. Technologies like Built Robotics transform heavy machinery like excavators into autonomous construction robots. This not only reduces the risk of worker injuries but enhances productivity by automating precise and repetitive tasks.
Post-Construction Monitoring: Once buildings and other infrastructure come to life, AI-enabled sensors can serve as guardians of structural health and sustainability through the IoT. These sensors can track structural integrity, energy consumption patterns, and occupancy levels in real time. By routinely gathering and analyzing data, AI systems enable proactive maintenance and resource optimization, ensuring that buildings and infrastructure remain stable and sustainable for generations to come.
Forging the Cities of Tomorrow
As we navigate the challenges of changing infrastructure needs and extreme weather, AI will guide us toward a more resilient urban environment. Developing adaptable and energy-efficient water management systems, buildings and other large-scale infrastructure is critical. AI’s role is to serve as an innovation catalyst and a force multiplier, enhancing human design and engineering capabilities to meet the needs of the future.
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