In today's rapidly evolving world, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with engineering projects has become an increasingly exciting prospect. AI can help EnSafe deliver our projects in a faster, more efficient manner, and we are underscoring our commitment to implementing the best available technology through the creation of an AI Workgroup, which has been busy evaluating programs to best fit our project needs. And while the available technology should not be considered a replacement for human engineering, we are excited by the ways in which AI can enhance our project approaches, offering innovative solutions to complex problems.
One of the key areas we believe AI can be useful is in smart infrastructure. With AI algorithms and real-time data analytics, engineers can optimize the performance of infrastructure systems, such as transportation networks and utilities, enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impacts.
“As example,” offered Civil Engineer Camilla Balderas, PE, “AI-powered traffic management systems can dynamically adjust traffic signals based on traffic patterns, reducing congestion and lowering carbon emissions.”
When it comes to energy optimization, AI can analyze vast amounts of data from energy systems and equipment, using algorithms to identify inefficiencies and recommend optimal energy-saving strategies. This not only helps reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions but also lowers operating costs for businesses and organizations.
An interesting emerging civil engineering AI application currently under evaluation by EnSafe engineers is the use of AI to develop rapid preliminary design scenarios for the normally iterative process of grading/earthwork scenarios for site development feasibility decision making. Evolving AI can help engineers design the best cost-benefit earthwork scenario, dramatically more efficiently than the current iterative, manual process. This frees our civil engineers to provide more rapid, in-depth analysis and better results for our clients.
“This can prove to be an invaluable tool and is an especially exciting prospect for EnSafe engineers,” enthused Balderas.
AI is also having real impacts in the water management arena. By integrating AI-powered sensors and predictive analytics, engineers can monitor water quality in real-time, detect leaks, and optimize water distribution networks. This enables more efficient use of water resources and helps mitigate the impacts of water scarcity and pollution.
AI has the potential to be a powerful tool in revolutionizing stormwater management practices as well, offering innovative solutions to enhance resilience and sustainability in the face of changing weather patterns and urbanization. AI's ability to analyze vast amounts of data and make real-time predictions can improve the way we monitor and manage stormwater infrastructure. Through the integration of AI-powered sensors, predictive analytics, and machine learning algorithms, engineers can monitor weather patterns, water levels, and flow rates with unprecedented accuracy.
Balderas noted, “This enables early detection of potential flood risks and allows for proactive interventions to mitigate their impact; critical to our clients and their infrastructure.”
Flooding is also one of the biggest challenges in stormwater design – finding the best balance between the percentage of the site that will be reserved for stormwater management and the percentage of the site that can be used for building, parking lot or any other infrastructure. With the gathered data, AI can also be a great tool to optimize the design of detention ponds preventing flooding to meet city and municipality regulations and optimize the pond shape/volume to decrease the area reserved for detention, increase the area of the site that can developed, and therefore, increase the property value.
EnSafe is continuing to explore AI programs that can assist our engineers in developing smarter, more efficient solutions that not only satisfy our clients but also protect the environment.
“What we’re seeing as we evaluate the technology is that AI is going to be a powerful tool to support our engineers,” said Balderas, “But it’s important to note that while AI design is extremely valuable when it comes to automation, all AI designs should be carefully reviewed and modified as needed to provide an optimum scenario that works on a real-world problem. It certainly cannot replace human engineering, but if it enables us to do our jobs better and faster, we look forward to embracing it.”