AI4Ports

https://bluerobotics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/BlueROV2.jpg

AI4PORTS project

DURATION: 12 months STARTS: January 2025

Monitoring submerged infrastructures is crucial due to climate change impacts and the growth of communication, energy, and port structures. Traditional methods are costly, resource-intensive, and often require divers, posing safety risks. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a transformative solution, enabling automated assessment of structural conditions, improving accuracy, and reducing costs through Machine Learning techniques.

This project tackles this problem by using marine robots (ROVs) equipped with optical and sonar imaging technologies to collect data and create new datasets. These datasets facilitate the development of models that automate decision-making for interventions in submerged structures. By utilizing advanced AI techniques and generating valuable datasets, this project aligns with the thematic area of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. This technology will contribute to greater protection and more efficiency in prevention and maintenance tasks.

The project has four stages (T1, T2, T3 and T4). It starts by preparing the ROV and identifying the needs for data collected from the structures. Then, it starts with the calibration of the sensors used. Collecting data and analysis is the next step. Finally, an automatic classification identifying severity levels of anomalies is intended to be provided.

This project will be held at the University of the Azores, at the Azorean Ports and at the INESC-TEC institution.

TEAM

Ana Rita Gaspar is a researcher at CRAS, INESCTEC

Alexandra Nunes is a researcher at CRAS, INESCTEC

Armando Brito Mendes, IS2E-LIACC, University of the Azores

José Cascalho, IS2E-LIACC, University of the Azores

Nuno Cruz, CRAS coordinator at INESC TEC

Institutions - Companies

ISEC-LIACC, University of the Azores

CRAS, INESC-TEC

Port of the Azores

TRISOLARIS, Azores