Revolutionizing infrastructure monitoring

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Don’t miss our first Pro Spotlight with Steve VanHaren of WSP below.

Let’s dive in.

Headline: University engineers pioneer AI-infused microwave resonator sensors for enhanced erosion-corrosion detection.

So what: Erosive wear is a detrimental process that causes irreversible damage to the exterior surfaces of structures such as bridges, aircraft, automobiles, and naval infrastructure. In the face of increasingly catastrophic climate events, infrastructure monitoring is critical. UBC Okanagan researchers, led by doctoral student Vishal Balasubramanian, are advancing the field by embedding sensors with artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) directly into protective coatings, offering real-time monitoring and minimizing human-caused errors. Unprotected surfaces with eroded coatings can catastrophically fail for a number of reasons, the most common of which are corrosion, mechanical impingement, and chemical degradation. Once this happens, the effects are often irreversible, leading to major safety hazards, financial losses, and even fatalities. Mr. Balasubramanian points out that,

Under the surface:  Current industry practices involve manual inspections using probes, leading to periodic downtime and potential oversights. Balasubramanian's team is leveraging microwave resonator sensors and AI to detect and monitor, in real time, erosion at both the surface and multi-layer levels. The non-destructive inspection system leverages AI-enabled microwave differential split ring resonator sensors, integrated to a smart, embedded monitoring circuit (pretty sophisticated). According to the research:

• The system is capable of distinguishing which layer is being eroded and estimating the wear depth and rate through its integration with a recurrent neural network-based predictive analytics model.

• The system detects the erosion of coatings through the variations of resonant characteristics of the split ring resonators, located underneath the coating layer while compensating for the external noises.

• The system’s response and performance are validated through erosive wear tests on single- and multi-layer polymeric coatings up to a thickness of 2.5 mm.

• Here’s a schematic of how things work:

In a Civil Engineer Wire interview with Mr. Balasubramanian, he indicated that, currently, the sensors must be integrated during the manufacturing process, but that the team is looking at existing structures with built in sensors where they can apply their monitoring capabilities. In terms of what’s next, the team is planning to expand the usage for structures that are already in place. Specifically, they are looking into long distance measurements of coating integrity. Once proven, they will start working on commercialization.

Net, net: This innovation promises to revolutionize the way we safeguard structures, ranging from wind turbine blades to critical infrastructure like bridges, preventing catastrophic failures and enhancing safety.

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Pro Spotlight - Steve VanHaren

The following interview was edited for brevity. You can see the full interview here on our website.

Meet today’s pro. I am a Principal Engineer for Water Resources with WSP in Canada. I’ve been in this or a similar role for 26 years with experience in [various] projects, including drainage, stormwater management, and [more]. I’m an avid skier and [also] have a hobby of building low-level computer systems from spare and old parts. [If I were to name a hero], I admire the courage that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had [in remaining] true to themselves [through their recent turn of events].

What is the most exciting thing you’re working on today? I am [working on] a new tool for landowners to realize their risk from newly developing sources of flooding, such as pluvial flooding.

What is the biggest challenge you’re facing today in your role? In my experience, lack of information and intentional misinformation are the biggest challenges to improving our collective experiences.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a younger / less experienced version of yourself? Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Your work is valuable and needed, regardless of the level you are working at. .

Read the full interview on our website here.

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Our next issue will dive into a comparison of open-source QGIS and it’s counterpart, ArcGIS. As always, email us your thoughts and follow us on X @CivilWire and LinkedIn. If you have any civil, structural, or architectural engineers you think we should spotlight, please let us know! We’re all about building community and bringing you meaningful connections.

Until next time; happy goal crushing.