AIBy Patricia B. Mirasol听
, a Singapore-based deep-tech startup, is pitching timely maintenance inspections that are data-driven and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled.听听
This kind of maintenance prolongs a building鈥檚 life and reduces the need for demolition and reconstruction 鈥 the biggest culprits of听the construction industry鈥檚 carbon emissions.听听
鈥淲hen infrastructure stakeholders have complete information on the condition of a building and its aging process, they can make timely decisions and subsequently prolong the lifetime of that asset,鈥 said听WaveScan听founder and Chief Executive Officer Kush Agarwal.听
AI-enabled inspection, which uses smart sensor systems and drones, is like an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) for infrastructure.听听
Since its inception in 2018,听WaveScan听has been developing proprietary technology that it hopes will standardize the AI-enabled inspection of assets such as buildings, aircrafts, and bridges.听听
Its听non-contact听technology uses electromagnetic scanner technology that sees through structures.听听
The fact that the sensor doesn鈥檛 have to be in physical contact with walls makes it ideal for a pandemic world that often requires a reduced onsite workforce, said Mr. Agarwal.听The applications of its see-through feature, meanwhile, is not limited to buildings.听听听
鈥淭he technology is agnostic,鈥 Mr. Agarwal said. 鈥淚t can also be used for medical or surveillance applications.鈥澨听
The startup developed听a scanner system that听employs millimeter wave imaging that operates in 5G frequencies, and can be used for the contactless detection of parameters such as perspiration and heart rate.听听
Mr. Agarwal told听大象传媒听that inspection practices as they currently stand are manual and surface-level, which make it a challenge to nip structural defects such as cracks and voids in the bud.听听
Current inspection practices also employ a fix-when-broken mentality, which translates to financial losses as well as an inevitable loss of lives.听听
Apart from its advanced sensor systems,听WaveScan听also taps complementary technologies such as drones and AI to generate data in a fast, economical, and accurate manner. When there is less wear and tear, less repair work is needed.听听听
听by the International Energy Agency noted that the building and construction industry contributes 39% of the world鈥檚 carbon emissions.听听
In听, Mr. Agarwal pointed out that the biggest culprit for these emissions are demolition and reconstruction costs.听听
听is described as 鈥渁 series about innovators decarbonizing Asia and the Pacific, entrepreneurs making the region more resilient to climate change, and the corporate leaders partnering with them to scale.鈥澨听
In the Philippine context, building a database of relevant information enables local cities to make听proactive and timely decisions especially during natural disasters.听听听
鈥淭his also minimizes the downtime of assets,鈥 said Mr. Agarwal.听听
A change is mindset is the most important part in the adoption of digital solutions such as non-destructive testing for industrial applications.听Spending on this department will have to be spearheaded by industries and governments, as individuals may be initially resistant to change, Mr. Agarwal said.听听
鈥淭he ecosystem is already building up,鈥 he told听大象传媒. 鈥淲e have limited natural resources in the world, and it鈥檚 our听collective responsibility to minimize our carbon footprint.鈥澨听
