Bengaluru's Namma Metro to Deploy AI Drones for Pillar Damage Detection
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Bengaluru's Namma Metro to Deploy AI Drones for Pillar Damage Detection

Bengaluru is set to deploy drones to improve the safety monitoring of concrete metro pillars and viaducts along metro tracks. The drones, equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, will capture images to detect cracks and structural damages.

The AI technology will not only identify defects on the tracks but also assess their potential impact and notify BMRCL's engineering team.

Sumit Bhatnagar, Director of Operations and Maintenance at Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), shared with the publication that Namma Metro plans to invite bids for AI-drone inspections of Reach 1 (MG Road – Byappanahalli), the city's first operational metro corridor, which was launched in 2011. He explained that the AI-driven systems would evaluate the extent of any structural damage and send alerts, allowing engineers to take timely maintenance actions.

The AI technology will detect defects and analyse their potential impact, notifying BMRCL's engineering team. Bhatnagar further added that the AI-powered evaluations would determine if the identified issues pose significant risks and recommend appropriate solutions, such as epoxy sealing or other repairs.

This technological upgrade is expected to reduce operational costs and increase the efficiency of BMRCL's engineering division. Currently, structural inspections are carried out manually with the use of binoculars, cameras, and hydraulic platforms. The introduction of drones and AI will minimize manual labour, enhance precision, and speed up infrastructure assessments.

In a related development, Bengaluru's traffic police have already adopted drone technology to monitor traffic flow across the city. Drones have been deployed at high-traffic areas such as Hebbal, Central Silk Board, Ibballur, Marathahalli, KR Puram, Guruguntapalya, Sarakki, and Banshankari bus stand to oversee congestion, particularly during peak hours.

Bengaluru is set to deploy drones to improve the safety monitoring of concrete metro pillars and viaducts along metro tracks. The drones, equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, will capture images to detect cracks and structural damages. The AI technology will not only identify defects on the tracks but also assess their potential impact and notify BMRCL's engineering team. Sumit Bhatnagar, Director of Operations and Maintenance at Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), shared with the publication that Namma Metro plans to invite bids for AI-drone inspections of Reach 1 (MG Road – Byappanahalli), the city's first operational metro corridor, which was launched in 2011. He explained that the AI-driven systems would evaluate the extent of any structural damage and send alerts, allowing engineers to take timely maintenance actions. The AI technology will detect defects and analyse their potential impact, notifying BMRCL's engineering team. Bhatnagar further added that the AI-powered evaluations would determine if the identified issues pose significant risks and recommend appropriate solutions, such as epoxy sealing or other repairs. This technological upgrade is expected to reduce operational costs and increase the efficiency of BMRCL's engineering division. Currently, structural inspections are carried out manually with the use of binoculars, cameras, and hydraulic platforms. The introduction of drones and AI will minimize manual labour, enhance precision, and speed up infrastructure assessments. In a related development, Bengaluru's traffic police have already adopted drone technology to monitor traffic flow across the city. Drones have been deployed at high-traffic areas such as Hebbal, Central Silk Board, Ibballur, Marathahalli, KR Puram, Guruguntapalya, Sarakki, and Banshankari bus stand to oversee congestion, particularly during peak hours.

Next Story
Equipment

Handling concrete better

Efficiently handling the transportation and placement of concrete is essential to help maintain the quality of construction, meet project timelines by minimising downtimes, and reduce costs – by 5 to 15 per cent, according to Sandeep Jain, Director, Arkade Developers. CW explores what the efficient handling of concrete entails.Select wellFirst, a word on choosing the right equipment, such as a mixer with a capacity aligned to the volume required onsite, from Vaibhav Kulkarni, Concrete Expert. “An overly large mixer will increase the idle time (and cost), while one that ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Elevated floors!

Raised access flooring, also called false flooring, is a less common interiors feature than false ceilings, but it has as many uses – if not more.A raised floor is a modular panel installed above the structural floor. The space beneath the raised flooring is typically used to accommodate utilities such as electrical cables, plumbing and HVAC systems. And so, raised flooring is usually associated with buildings with heavy cabling and precise air distribution needs, such as data centres.That said, CW interacted with designers and architects and discovered that false flooring can come in handy ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

The Variation Challenge

A variation or change in scope clause is defined in construction contracts to take care of situations arising from change in the defined scope of work. Such changes may arise due to factors such as additions or deletions in the scope of work, modifications in the type, grade or specifications of materials, alterations in specifications or drawings, and acts or omissions of other contractors. Further, ineffective planning, inadequate investigations or surveys and requests from the employer or those within the project’s area of influence can contribute to changes in the scope of work. Ext..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?