As the Government looks to cut spending across the board, the people charged with delivering HS2 have been asked to identify areas where savings can be made.
HS2 is currently Europe’s largest infrastructure project, with work already well underway at more than 300 active sites.
The sheer scale of the project means that processes are constantly reviewed and updated, with the aim to find smarter ways of working rather than making savings through a reduction in scope or quality.
The HS2 innovation team looks to do this in part through an innovation accelerator, which invites tech start-ups to submit applications that can be showcased to industry investors and members of the HS2 supply chain.
The accelerator is currently focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and is looking for five candidates that can provide innovations such as reducing embedded carbon or altering details of the project’s systems, stations or depots.
Any start-ups that end up working on HS2 will join more than 25 SMEs already working with the innovation department on 32 AI projects.
Some of the start-ups that have already gone through the accelerator include Buildots, Cloud Cycle and Dendra Systems.
AI is used to track build progress, optimise concrete use and monitor green corridors
Buildots developed a wearable camera tech system that uses a combination of computer vision and AI to automate build progress tracking, comparing work on the ground to the design and schedule.
Cloud Cycle uses Internet of Things (IoT) sensors located in concrete mixer drums to monitor the properties of the concrete being mixed.
This real-time data can be used to optimise the use of concrete in a particular construction project, and the company claims that it could save 420,000 tonnes of concrete, reducing carbon emissions by 50 million kilos, during Phase 1 of HS2.
Dendra Systems, meanwhile, uses AI and drone technology to monitor the ‘green corridor’ of trees planned along the route.
By identifying the dozens of tree species and assessing whether they are thriving or in need of maintenance – such as removing invasive weeds or improving soil conditions – this will help the project’s overall sustainability goals.
Senior innovation manager Jonathan Kelly told Building.co.uk that the sheer size of the project provided access to one of the biggest datasets in Europe, giving the opportunity to make full use of AI technologies.
Today’s news was brought to you by TD SYNNEX – the UK’s number one solutions distributor.
