March 27, 2025
2 Min Read
The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering & Building Technology (KICT) has developed an AI-based inspection technology integrated with autonomous drones to enhance tunnel safety and maintenance, addressing workforce shortages and data scarcity.
South Korea's aging tunnels require frequent inspection, but a declining number of specialized personnel makes traditional methods unsustainable. Deep learning models need large datasets, yet real-world images of tunnel damage are scarce.
A research team led by Dr. Shim Seungbo at KICT has created an AI system that synthesizes realistic images of tunnel damage, enabling effective training with minimal data.
AI-integrated drones successfully tested in large tunnels eliminate the need for hazardous manual inspections.
Dr. Shim Seungbo stated, “This technology proves AI can function effectively even with limited data by generating synthetic images.”
Funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) under the KICT Research Program, this initiative advances South Korea’s smart infrastructure goals, ensuring long-term structural integrity and public safety.