STRUCTURE

The STRUCTURE project aims to automate and significantly improve the efficiency of inspection/maintenance of transportation infrastructure by developing and exploiting a HW/SW framework comprising four core technological innovations. First, an integrated suite of sensors of different modalities enabling simultaneous inspection of both the surface and subsurface (hidden) defects. Acoustic array, seismic, conductivity sensors, ground penetrating radar and X-Ray sensors will target detection of the complete range of subsurface internal defects. Visual, LiDAR and thermal sensors will focus at the surface-level defects, and assessment of structural integrity. Second, an autonomous sensor carrier platform that will be to carry the sensor suite over the assets in close proximity with a high precision. Apart from the autonomous mission control and high payload capabilities, the airborne platform will be able to operate robustly in between the geometrically complex structures (e.g. bridge sections) under turbulent windy conditions. Third, AI-based defect detection algorithms that combine the multi-modal sensor data in holistic analysis should provide comprehensive inspection results regarding a wide range of structural faults and defects. Fourth, a Digital Twin as a Service (DTaaS) technology, where the real-time inspection results, geological maps and traffic profiles are mapped on a 3D asset model, should provide awareness on health issues of an asset, enable predictive maintenance and fast decision support.