Artificial Intelligence for the Condition Assessment of Critical Infrastructure

该合作伙伴关系的目标是提高测试速度，再现性和准确性的工具和技术，通常用于监测混凝土的结构退化。我们将使用人工智能（AI）和深度学习（DL）开发自动化工具，用于现场视觉裂缝检查和基于实验室的混凝土损伤评估显微技术。我们的解决方案将包括快速可靠的工具，i）使用智能手机应用程序（“应用程序”）自动计算开裂指数（CI），以真实的时间分析结构目视检查期间现场拍摄的照片，以及ii）通过将图像分析（IA）技术应用于混凝土样本的高分辨率体视显微镜图像，自动计算损坏等级指数（DRI）。 拟议的技术将大大加强两个重要的具体监测技术：a）计算CI，基于结构的目视检查对损坏原因和程度进行初步评估，以及B）计算DRI，在实验室里检查从建筑物中取出的岩芯样本基于微观协议来诊断混凝土损坏的原因和程度，受到内部膨胀反应（ISR）等损坏机制的影响。这两种方法都有重要的局限性：CI需要在现场定性调查，虽然有用的初步指标，其能力，以评估受影响的混凝土损坏仍然是不清楚的结构呈现多种遇险机制和不同程度的限制和曝光条件。DRI的计算是一个耗时的、基于专业知识的实验室程序。CI和DRI本质上都是主观的，并且严重依赖于执行分析的人的技能和经验。该项目将能够对加拿大主要基础设施（如桥梁、水坝和建筑物）的混凝土损坏的性质和程度进行快速可靠的评估。这反过来又将有助于及时和具有成本效益的预防性修复战略，从而确保更安全和更可靠的建筑环境。

The goals of this partnership are to improve testing speed, reproducibility, and accuracy of tools and techniques commonly used for monitoring structural deterioration of concrete. We will use artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) to develop automated tools for on-site visual crack inspection and for lab-based microscopic techniques for concrete damage assessment. Our solutions will include rapid and reliable tools to i) automate computation of the cracking index (CI), using a smartphone application ("app") to analyze, in real time, pictures taken in-situ during visual inspections of structures, and ii) to automate the Damage Rating Index (DRI) calculation by applying image analysis (IA) techniques to high-resolution stereomicroscope images of concrete specimens. The proposed technology will significantly enhance two important concrete monitoring techniques: a) computation of the CI, a preliminary assessment of cause and extent of damage based on visual inspection of structures, and b) computation of the DRI, in which core samples retrieved from structures are inspected in a lab-based microscopic protocol to diagnose cause and extent of damage in concrete affected by distress mechanisms such as internal swelling reactions (ISR). Both methods have important limitations: CI requires in-situ qualitative investigations and, although useful as a preliminary indicator, its ability to assess damage of affected concrete is still unclear for structures presenting multiple distress mechanisms and under distinct degrees of confinement and exposure conditions. Computation of the DRI is a time-consuming, expertise-based, lab procedure. Both CI and DRI are subjective in nature and rely heavily on the skill and experience of the person performing the analysis. This project will enable rapid and reliable assessments of the nature and extent of concrete damage in critical infrastructure prevalent in Canada, such as bridges, dams, and buildings. This will, in turn, enable timely and cost-effective preventative rehabilitation strategies, thus ensuring a safer and more reliable built environment.