Virtual Eyes has won the Innovation Award at Stormwater 2023, the annual conference for stormwater professionals organised by Water NZ. This year, the innovation showcase was refreshed in order to celebrate any and all new ways of thinking or doing, that are aimed at improving stormwater outcomes across Aotearoa.
Image from Virtual Eyes (left), Kris Fordham (Auckland Council) receives award (right).
Virtual Eyes is an AI based system that allows Auckland Council and their contractors to check the condition of critical stormwater assets from the comfort of their desks. Developed by Lynker Analytics and Mott MacDonald, the system uses solar-powered cameras installed near key assets communicating with an AI model to detect pipe blockages or flooding at these sites. The system is set up to send alarms depending on the type of issue detected.
Time lapse video from Virtual Eyes
Images from each site are sent to Moata which is a smart infrastructure monitoring system used by Auckland Council to visualise the performance of water assets enabling optimisation and focused maintenance.
By detecting blockages early, the system will also improve the efficiency of maintenance operations, reducing costs and minimising disruptions to the public. Ultimately, the proposed system will lead to a more sustainable and resilient stormwater network for Auckland.