Researchers from the University of Texas at Arlington are putting together a mobile-scanning machine for bridge inspection, as extreme heat puts a strain on transportation infrastructure.
Photographer: Desiree Rios/Bloomberg
Are Bridges Near You Safe? This MRI-Like Scan May Prevent Disaster
Extreme heat is taking a toll on the US’s aging bridges. These researchers are enlisting AI and automation to perform drive-through inspections.
Suyun Ham can’t take his eyes off a scanner. "Lower the sensors a little bit more," Ham urges an assistant. Then a barrage of data floods in, filling computer screens for a diagnosis.
But Ham isn’t a medical doctor. Nor is his “patient” a living creature. An engineering professor from the University of Texas at Arlington, he is experimenting with a novel approach in bridge inspection.