Brief
AI-powered technology at NYU is set to transform NYC building inspections, addressing greenhouse gas emissions caused by poorly insulated building exteriors. Leveraging robots, drones, and deep learning, this innovation promises efficiency and accuracy.
Insight
In New York City, buildings with inadequately maintained exteriors, such as walls and roofs, contribute significantly to the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is due to reduced thermal insulation effectiveness caused by air leakages from wall penetrations, which result in higher energy needs for maintaining stable indoor temperatures.
Recognising this issue, an AI-driven technological solution is being developed at New York University (NYU). This technology leverages robots and drones to scan and detect building envelope leaks. This non-invasive detection method reduces the need for physical site visits by engineers. Instead, the collected data is analysed by AI software, providing comprehensive building condition reports.
Chen Feng, the project’s lead at NYU, asserts that this technology will revolutionise building inspection processes, making them more efficient and capable of assessing otherwise hard-to-reach areas. Feng’s collaborator, Semiha Ergan, emphasises the importance of building envelopes in energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and structural integrity. Poor air and moisture sealing can lead to increased emissions and even adverse health outcomes for residents.
The project, a collaboration between academia and civic bodies, aligns with Local Law 97 compliance. Following their initial success with a pilot assessment at the Brooklyn Army Terminal using thermal-sensing drones and a preliminary robotic platform, the team secured a $1 million award to advance their research. By 2024, they aim to deploy an autonomous robotic system equipped with advanced sensors, including ground-penetrating radar, GPS, Lidar, and thermal cameras.
Drones will also play a key role in capturing thermal and colour data of buildings. As part of their ongoing initiatives, the team plans to inspect schools owned by the Archdiocese of New York and collaborate with researchers from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health to explore adoption barriers and opportunities for their innovative technology
Highlight
- This is due to reduced thermal insulation effectiveness caused by air leakages from wall penetrations, which result in higher energy needs for maintaining stable indoor temperatures.
- This non-invasive detection method reduces the need for physical site visits by engineers. Instead, the collected data is analysed by AI software, providing comprehensive building condition reports.
- they aim to deploy an autonomous robotic system equipped with advanced sensors, including ground-penetrating radar, GPS, Lidar, and thermal cameras.
READ MORE
Related Questions:
- What are the risks of building envelope?
- What is air leakage through a building envelope?
- How do you seal a building envelope?
- What is an example of a building envelope failure?
Recent Comments