INTELLIGENT INSPECTION by Kiwa

Digital concrete inspections

Our service allows you to use high-resolution images, from UAV/drones or handheld cameras, to map damage of inspected objects (e.g. bridges, dams, power plants and water towers, etc.) across your entire facility. INTELLIGENT INSPECTION of Concrete uses AI to automatically detect, classify and map the damages, down to cracks as small as 0.2 mm wide.

AI image processing and 3D visualization give you an excellent overview of the health status of the concrete structure and serve as a tool for Asset Management experts to predict and plan future actions. It is possible to automatically monitor the development of damage and put the right measures in place in good time. Benefits include major cost savings and an extended service life for your facility.

Welcome to INTELLIGENT INSPECTION by Kiwa – in partnership with Spotscale.

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  • Saves time and expense
  • Automated damage monitoring
  • Safe working environment
  • Automated & quality-assured technology
Do you manage concrete facilities that require high levels of personal safety and operational availability? AI technology is here to help you!
Pär Ljustell, PhD & Product Manager Digital Concrete Inspections
Step 1 - 3D model

Drones are used to collect photos for the photogrammetric 3D digital twin of your dam, water tower, bridge, chimney, property or other concrete structure. The 3D model can be updated with information from each new inspection.

Step 2 - Planning

Drone flight planning for high-quality photography in less time. This thorough preparatory work provides a high degree of automation and repeatability and assures that the inspection will be performed according to the Kiwa Concrete Inspection procedure.

Step 3 - Data acquisition

Automated inspection flights collect high-resolution photographs along the planned flight paths.

Step 4 - Data analysis

Inspection and analysis of concrete surfaces using AI. Produces a breakdown of damage by type, number and size, as well as damage growth since the last inspection.

Step 5 - Data visualisation

Presentation of detected defects and damage in the 3D digital twin, alongside the results of the material analysis.

Step 6 - Health Assessment

Specific health assessment and recommendations for future inspections or additional testing, repair or renovation.

Step 3-6: Damage monitoring

You can digitally track your facility’s health status via Kiwa’s customer portal. Information from recurring automated inspections is added to previous inspections so the facility’s health status can be quantified and followed over time.

Digital inspections bring greater reliability

What are the benefits of digitalized concrete inspection if you are responsible for operation and maintenance or safety relating to concrete structures? The table below highlights some of the significant differences and gains compared to a manual inspection.

Testing services Manual Automated
Detection target 0.2 mm Yes Yes
Reduced health and safety risks No Yes
Inspection speed 1x 10x-100x
Automated damage positioning No Yes
Digital damage archiving No Yes
Automated damage monitoring No Yes
Predict damage development over time No Yes
Greater chance of finding damage with less variation in outcomes No Yes

The system gives you access to a detailed information database in the form of a digital twin of your facility. The virtual 3D model serves as an information carrier on the status of the concrete surfaces since all the different types of manufacturing defects or service-induced damage are visually accessible and measurable. This gives you full transparency, as well as an overall understanding of the facility’s status and the assessments Kiwa has produced for you. The technology is well suited to automated follow-ups and calculations over time, for example by mapping the damage onto a 3D structural analysis model.

The advantage of a digitalised workflow is that the information is available to other related systems, allowing for the creation of digital processes where information exchange is crucial. The information is also traceable and linked to a time and georeference. Information from new inspections can easily be added to the model, and this is not restricted to the documentation of the surface. Testing using volumetric methods such as ultrasound and radar can also be linked to the model.

Kiwa’s INTELLIGENT INSPECTION of Concrete service is rooted in our experience and expertise regarding testing methodologies for critical infrastructure. We also understand and can meet all the information management requirements concerning data security and confidentiality.

News Articles

The world’s first 3D AI recognition system for large concrete structures

Last year Kiwa and Spotscale entered into a partnership agreement for the development of the inspection technology of the future, one that uses AI to predict the lifetime of concrete structures.