Cracks in roads and buildings might seem minor, but they can lead to catastrophic issues if not addressed promptly. Early detection of these cracks is crucial to preventing accidents, reducing repair costs, and extending the lifespan of our infrastructure.
Traditionally, identifying these cracks has been a time-consuming and labour-intensive process. However, research experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have come up with a transformative solution: using drones and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect, evaluate, and quantify cracks in roads from the sky.
The research team led by Amieghemen Goodnews, a Nigerian Research Engineer from Edo State, developed an innovative system that combines drone technology with AI to transform road maintenance. This system, which is particularly relevant to Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges, offers a faster, safer, and more efficient way to monitor roads. The system entails drones flying at altitudes of about 75 meters, capturing high-resolution images of roads over large areas quickly and safely. This eliminates the need for workers to operate near busy traffic, significantly reducing risks.
The captured images are then processed using advanced AI models to detect cracks within seconds. This innovation is particularly unique because it uses drones flying high above, capturing wide areas in a short time. Goodnews and the research team didn’t stop at using a single AI model. Instead, they employed an “ensemble” of five different AI models, combining their strengths to enhance detection accuracy.
This approach ensures:
- Fast and Safe Monitoring: Drones cover extensive areas rapidly, avoiding hazards associated with manual inspections. With an increase in pavement assessment speed, frequent inspections could easily be carried out.
- High Accuracy: The ensemble model reliably detects cracks, even in challenging conditions such as poor lighting or obstructed views.
- Prioritization of Repairs: The team introduced the Pavement Crack Metric (PCM), a tool that calculates damage severity by comparing the area of cracks to the total road surface. This metric helps authorities prioritize repairs efficiently and allocate resources effectively.
In Nigeria, road maintenance is a critical challenge. Potholes, cracks, and other structural issues are commonplace, contributing to accidents and economic losses. Current methods of road inspection are slow, costly, and prone to human error. By adopting Goodnews’ drone and AI system, Nigerian authorities can inspect vast road networks quickly, reduce delays in maintenance, allocate repair budgets more effectively by identifying the most damaged roads, and enhance safety for road users and maintenance workers alike.
While this system offers significant benefits, it’s not without challenges. Obstructions like trees and parked vehicles, as well as variations in lighting and weather, can impact the quality of drone imagery. To overcome these limitations, the research team plans to use higher-resolution cameras and train their AI models with more diverse data. They also aim to expand the technology to detect smaller cracks and apply it to bridges, dams, and buildings. The potential for this technology in Nigeria is immense. With its extensive road network and urgent need for better maintenance strategies, adopting UAV and AI systems could transform infrastructure management. Local, State, and Federal governments, construction firms, and private sector players could leverage this innovation to improve road conditions nationwide.
Goodnews and his research team are also working on other cutting-edge projects, such as developing AI tools to predict the strength of concrete from visual inspections, creating smart systems to forecast crack progression, and designing bioengineered materials that can heal cracks automatically.
These innovations could address long-standing infrastructure challenges in Nigeria and beyond. Their research work combines cutting-edge technology with practical solutions to make our buildings and infrastructure stronger and smarter. The innovative development of detecting cracks from high-elevation drones was supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation, with help from Dunn Construction and the UAB Sustainable Smart Cities Center.
As a Nigerian, Amieghemen Goodnews’ work also serves as an inspiring example of how innovation can bridge continents. Goodnews, who earned multiple accolades in Nigeria before moving to the United States to hone his research skills, showcases the global impact that Nigerian excellence can achieve. Given the urgent need for transformation in Nigeria’s road infrastructure, his work with drone-based crack detection presents a promising solution. By adopting such innovative technologies, Nigeria can enhance safety, reduce costs, and build a more resilient future. Goodnews’ collaborative approach to technology and engineering serves as a vital blueprint for tackling the nation’s infrastructure challenges while showcasing the remarkable potential of homegrown ingenuity.
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