The KIRAS project INFRASPEC is researching novel methods to automatically inspect critical infrastructure using robots. This supports security personnel while doing mandatory, regular checks. It is also useful for detailed, remote-controlled investigations in the event of an alarm, specifically in terms of critical pipe and cable ducts. In the long term, semi-automated inspections can help to better protect critical infrastructures and to increase their availability.

Extensive and complex networks of supply corridors, often extending over a length of up to several hundred kilometers and providing only limited access, are particularly challenging inspections. These corridors are particularly prone to disruption but can also be targets for deliberate manipulation or acts with criminal intent. The aim of this project is to develop a semi-automatic robot system so that supply shafts can be examined automatically, directly and reliably for changes (unknown objects, manipulations, damage to the building fabric, etc.). It is also important to identify leaks of hazardous substances (industrial gases, fuels, refrigerants, etc.).

The focus is on developing novel analysis methods based on real-time 3D environmental modeling combined with hazardous substance measurements to support this goal. In addition, the development of methods to detect occlusions due to corners and niches contributes to achieve a complete digital coverage of the supply shafts.

The project is funded in the security research funding program KIRAS of the Federal Ministry of Finance (FFG project number: FO999895182).

Project partners
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (Projektleitung)
Bundesministerium für Inneres
Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung
CBRN Protection GmbH
Disaster Competence Network Austria
Flughafen Wien AG
Johannes Kepler Universität Linz - Institute of Networks and Security
Rosenbauer International AG
Wiener Netze GmbH

Project website >