AI provides X-ray vision: Now we can see what our buildings are made of 鈥� and it could help save the climate
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and Peking University have developed a groundbreaking AI technology capable of mapping building materials on a large scale. This innovation is crucial for urban planning, sustainable construction, and CO鈧� reduction.
"Our method allows us to see exactly what buildings are made of without the need to take samples or demolish anything. This can help us reuse materials, improve building energy efficiency, and reduce CO鈧� emissions from the construction industry."
These are the words of Professor Gang Liu, who have developed, in close collaboration with researchers from Peking University and the University of Southern Denmark, a methodology that enables us to determine what cities are made of. How much concrete is in your street? How much wood? How much metal?
By combining artificial intelligence with satellite and street-level imagery, the researchers can map urban building materials with unprecedented accuracy - a crucial invention for sustainable urban development in the future.
The construction industry: A significant climate culprit – and part of the solution
The construction industry is one of the most significant contributors to climate change, responsible for nearly one-third of global CO鈧� emissions, mainly due to producing concrete, steel, and glass. Yet, until now, we have had very little knowledge of what materials are in our cities.
"If we don't know what we already have, how can we plan for a sustainable future?" asks Gang Liu.
"Our method allows us to investigate what buildings are made of without the need to take samples or demolish anything. This can help us reuse materials, improve energy efficiency in buildings, and reduce CO鈧� emissions from the construction sector," explains Professor Gang Liu and his colleague postdoc Kun Sun.
The technology provides municipalities and urban planners with a detailed map of the materials already available in a city. Should an old building be demolished, or can it be renovated? Are there enough recyclable materials in the city to construct new buildings without unnecessary CO鈧� emissions?
"Many cities today plan without knowing their resources. With our technology, they can see what they have before deciding what to build," says Liu.
From waste to gold: Smarter reuse of building materials
One of the most significant benefits of this technology is the potential to reuse more building materials instead of discarding them. Currently, vast amounts of concrete and metal end up as waste simply because we lack the knowledge of recycling.
"It's like throwing away a whole pot of food just because you don't know what's in it," says Gang Liu with a laugh.
We can plan reuse more effectively by using AI to map a city's building materials before demolishing a structure. Concrete can be crushed and reused in new constructions. Metal can be melted down. Wood can be repurposed in new buildings. This reduces waste and the need to extract new raw materials.
AI reveals what we cannot see – and makes buildings greener
The technology is valuable for recycling building materials and can improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings.
"When we know a building's materials, we can predict its energy consumption and find the best solutions to reduce it," explains Gang Liu.
For instance, buildings with poor insulation can be identified and upgraded, saving energy and money on heating costs.
"We can now provide concrete advice on where it makes the most sense to invest in energy improvements – instead of just guessing," says Liu.
The future: Smarter cities, lower CO鈧� emissions
More than 70% of global CO鈧� emissions come from cities, even though they cover only around 2% of the Earth's surface. Cities are a great place to start if we want to cut emissions.
Moreover, major cities have significant political influence, as they can implement their climate strategies. Cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Paris have already set ambitious goals to become climate-neutral long before their respective countries.
"Cities are the key to solving the climate crisis. If we want a sustainable future, we must start by understanding what we already have – and using it wisely," says Liu.
Liu and his team are now working to roll out the technology in more cities worldwide. Their vision is that all major cities in the future will have digital maps of their materials – and actively use them to become greener.