Chennai: Researchers at IIT-Madras are developing advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) technologies aimed at improving infrastructure safety and reducing operational costs across sectors such as transport, energy and public utilities.
Centre Focuses on Monitoring Without Damage
The institute’s “Centre for Non-Destructive Evaluation (CNDE)” is working on methods to inspect the integrity of critical assets such as pipelines, bridges, tanks, and dams without dismantling or damaging them. This approach, known as Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), uses technologies like X-rays, infrared thermography, lasers, ultrasonics, microwave and eddy currents.
These tools are paired with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, drones, hyperspectral imaging, and quantum computing to develop more precise and scalable inspection systems.
Reducing Downtime, Enhancing Asset Life
The CNDE’s goal is to help industries reduce operational costs by up to 40 per cent, improve asset uptime by 20 per cent, and extend asset life, according to the project heads. The centre is also developing technology aimed at societal challenges, such as robotics solutions to eliminate manual scavenging and AI-driven healthcare diagnostics.
National Infrastructure Among Key Priorities
Given India’s vast physical infrastructure, including the second-largest road network globally and extensive railway and pipeline systems, researchers say scalable and accurate testing methods are critical for asset integrity and public safety.
“India handles 95 per cent of its international trade through ports and has over 40,000 km of cross-country pipelines. These require continuous health monitoring,” said Krishnan Balasubramanian, a professor associated with the centre.
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