Team of computer science and software engineering students and faculty design mobile app and data management solution to improve structural integrity in vulnerable school buildings
SAN LUIS OBISPO The Cal Poly Digital Transformation Hub (DxHub) powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and a team of Cal Poly students designed a mobile app for the World Bank to help improve school safety in developing countries, projecting to reduce costs and time by 50%.
Millions of childrens lives and billions of dollars in infrastructure are at stake, since disasters such as earthquakes and cyclones put more than 1 million school buildings in low- and middle-income countries at risk of collapsing. An estimated 875 million children and teachers could be injured or die in damaged school buildings, according to World Bank figures. In addition, when schools close as a result of disasters, there are indirect losses as students are deprived of learning opportunities, further compounding the impacts.
The cutting-edge technology was developed by the DxHub, using AWS Cloud-based tools, for the World Banks Global Program for Safer Schools (under the umbrella of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery). A multidisciplinary team of undergraduate and graduate students, and Professor Franz J. Kurfess worked with DxHub officials to create the mobile phone app design and deep learning computer vision model. The model simplifies how different types of school buildings vulnerable to natural disasters are identified to speed up the risk-informed intervention and investment planning to ultimately make schools safer at scale.
The app design, automated data management solution and deep learning model received international recognition from the Observatory of Public Sector Innovation, a flagship initiative of the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The 60-year-old OECD, with 38 member nations, supports and advises governments on making innovative approaches to transform their public sector.
The solution design is the result of a university-based partnership between the DxHub and the World Bank, one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. The World Bank helps developing countries share and apply innovative knowledge and solutions to solve the challenges in every major development area towards ending poverty and shared prosperity, through a wide range of financial products and technical assistance.
The app design and the deep learning computer vision model will help the Global Program for Safer Schools (GPSS) move forward its agenda with scalable and efficient data solutions to facilitate governments strategic investment prioritization based on evidence on school building vulnerability.
DxHub and Cal Poly faculty and students were called in to help address the development challenge on school infrastructure baseline data. Theres a lack of baseline data about school building structural characteristics in developing countries and no efficient way to collect, update and manage such a large amount of data at national scale. Specifically, field data collection across large geographic areas and labeling of photographic data is time-consuming and expensive to do across tens of thousands of schools.
The DxHub welcomed the opportunity to work with students to tackle this important and critical challenge.
Our partnership with the World Bank enables Cal Poly students to innovate and problem solve in ways that have real impact, said DxHub Director Paul Jurasin. This app design is just one example of the solutions we are bringing to bear that can make a significant difference in the world, and we greatly appreciate the recognition of our collaboration.
This month, Kurfess and his computer science class demonstrated the latest iteration of the solution design, which the GPSS team can now use as a template in field testing.
The partnership with Cal Poly and DxHub helped us explore an AI-based solution to supplement the country-level school infrastructure data gap leveraging a team of talented young minds from multidisciplinary backgrounds, said Task Team Lead of the GPSS, Fernando Ramirez Cortes. This approach will not replace the conventional field surveys by qualified personnel but will complement the more detailed assessments over a representative sample. By drawing conclusions at a large scale, the AI solution prevents the need to carry out those conventional assessments over the entire portfolio and is projected to reduce time and expense by 50%.
This months final demonstration of the model culminates two years of research and development by multidisciplinary teams, including a virtual student exchange with the Munich University of Applied Sciences, also part of the AWS Cloud Innovation Centers Program. The teams have examined the use of AI technologies for various aspects of making schools safer, creating an easy-to-use mobile app design to identify vulnerable school buildings most in need of interventions. Using the app, photos of school buildings are uploaded to the cloud where an AI deep learning algorithm determines the key vulnerability characteristics of each structure building type, height and structural system.
A trained engineer remotely reviews the initial results for accuracy and, in the process, fine-tunes the deep learning model to continuously improve the quality of the results. From there, the engineers findings go to decision makers who can quickly prioritize investments for the most vulnerable school buildings.
For students involved, including DxHub student employees, Ashley Choi, a sociology and political science senior from San Mateo, California, and Elisa Horta, a mechanical engineering senior from Santa Clara, California, this project provides a Learn by Doing educational experience, as they graduate, ready to move on to careers in industry.
This project was a great opportunity to accelerate my learning in a real-world setting, said Cal Poly alumna Sydney Nguyen (architecture and ethnic studies, 20) from Oakland, California. I was especially drawn to the social impact of this project, with learning opportunities to use design and technology to aid marginalized communities at local-global scales.
In addition to recognition from the OECDs Observatory of Public Sector Innovation, Kurfess and the team presented at the 128th American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and also were recognized as a semifinalist in the SAFE STEPS D-Tech (Disaster Tech) Award for innovative technology solutions that save lives before, during and after natural disaster events.
More OnlineThe design for this solution can be found at:https://dxhub.calpoly.edu/challenges/identification-of-school-vulnerability-at-scale/
Observatory of Public Sector Innovation case study can be found at:https://oecd-opsi.org/innovations/simplifying-the-identification-of-school-infrastructure-vulnerability-at-scale/
About the Cal Poly Digital Transformation HubCal Polys Digital Transformation Hub (DxHub) was one of the earliest collaborations between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and an educational institution focused on innovation and digital transformation. While providing students with real-world learning experiences, the DxHub applies proven innovation methodologies in combination with the deep subject matter expertise of the public sector and the technology expertise of AWS to solve challenging problems in ways not contemplated before. For more information, visit https://dxhub.calpoly.edu.
About Cal PolyFounded in 1901 and part of the renowned California State University system since 1960, Cal Poly is a nationally ranked, four-year, comprehensive polytechnic public university located in San Luis Obispo, California. Known for its Learn by Doing approach, small class sizes, and open access to expert faculty, Cal Poly is a distinctive learning community whose nearly 22,000 academically motivated students enjoy an unrivaled hands-on educational experience that prepares them to lead successful personal and professional lives.
Photo info:Top: Damaged School 1 A school suffered massive damaged in a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Nepal on April 25, 2015, collapsing multi-story structures in Kathmandu and causing avalanches and landslides in the Himalayas. Approximately 9,000 people were killed, and over 22,000 were injured.Photo courtesy of the World Bank
Second photo from top: School exterior An official takes a photo of the school in the Kyrgyz Republic, the mountainous landlocked nation in Central Asia, as part of a pre-disaster assessment of the structure.Photo courtesy of the World Bank
Third photo from top: SaferSchoolsApp A team of Cal Poly students designed a mobile app for the World Bank to help improve school safety in developing countries, projecting to reduce cost and time by 50%. From left, Nicholas Hansen (Computer Science, 2022), Zachary Cipolla (Computer Science, 2022), Elisa Horta (Mechanical Engineering, 2023), Melissa Nardone (Computer Engineering, 2022) and Professor Franz Kurfess meet remotely with the World Bank's Global Program for Safer Schools team.Photo by Joe Johnson | Cal Poly
Fourth photo from top: Overview A multidisciplinary team of Cal Poly students, led by Professor Franz J. Kurfess in the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department worked with DxHub officials to design a mobile phone app and deep learning computer vision model. The model simplifies how different types of school buildings vulnerable to natural disasters are identified to speeds up the risk-informed intervention and investment planning to ultimately make schools safer at scale.Photo courtesy of the World Bank
April 28, 2022Contact: Matt Lazier805-756-7109; mlazier@calpoly.edu
Continued here:
- Report: Apple acquires French startup behind AI and computer vision technology - 9to5Mac - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- CACI Awarded $1.3 Billion Task Order to Provide Communications and Information Technology Expertise to U.S. ... - Business Wire - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- What is semi-automated offside technology and how does it work? - The Athletic - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Can technology save us from an ecological apocalypse? - interview - CyberNews.com - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Does LaLiga have goalline technology? What about other major leagues? - AS USA - April 22nd, 2024 [April 22nd, 2024]
- Driver Assistance Technologies: NHTSA Should Take Action to Enhance Consumer Understanding of Capabilities and ... - Government Accountability Office - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- OpenAI reveals Voice Engine, but won't yet publicly release the risky AI voice-cloning technology - The Associated Press - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Nexalin Technology Full Year 2023 Earnings: US$0.63 loss per share (vs US$0.30 loss in FY 2022) - Yahoo Finance - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- 'Battle for your brain': What the rise of brain-computer interface technology means for you - WBUR News - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Firsthand Technology Value Fund (NASDAQ:SVVC) Research Coverage Started at StockNews.com - Defense World - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Suzhou Anjie Technology Full Year 2023 Earnings: Misses Expectations - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Inside the shadowy global battle to tame the world's most dangerous technology - POLITICO Europe - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- The Technological Pivot Of History: Power In The Age Of Exponential Innovation Analysis - Eurasia Review - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- 'Women Behind the Wheel' explores the intersection of gender, culture and cars - NPR - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Shanghai Weihong Electronic Technology Full Year 2023 Earnings: Revenues Beat Expectations, EPS Lags - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- A Look At The Fair Value Of Powertech Technology Inc. (TWSE:6239) - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Weaver Network Technology Full Year 2023 Earnings: EPS Beats Expectations, Revenues Lag - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- New York City will introduce controversial AI gun detection technology amid subway crime crisis - SiliconANGLE News - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Earnings Not Telling The Story For Beijing CTJ Information Technology Co., Ltd. (SZSE:301153) - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Vontron Technology Full Year 2023 Earnings: EPS: CN0.35 (vs CN0.34 in FY 2022) - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Huawei Revenue Rises as Technology Giant Commits to Growth - Technology Magazine - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology Full Year 2023 Earnings: Beats Expectations - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- USPACE Technology Group Limited (HKG:1725) May Have Run Too Fast Too Soon With Recent 28% Price Plummet - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- NYC to test gun-detecting technology in subway system - SILive.com - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Cancer Treatment: 3D Printing and Scanning Technology - Surviving Mesothelioma - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Does Contel Technology (HKG:1912) Have A Healthy Balance Sheet? - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Oppo Find X7 series now supports 5G-Advanced technology with up to 10 Gbps downlink speed - The Indian Express - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- DCPS receives nearly $20k in grants for technology program advancements - The Owensboro Times - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Hangzhou Electronic Soul Network Technology Full Year 2023 Earnings: Misses Expectations - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- International Business Digital Technology Full Year 2023 Earnings: CN0.07 loss per share (vs CN0.019 loss in FY ... - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Analysts Are More Bearish On Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology Co., Ltd. (SZSE:002709) Than They Used To Be - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Daheng New Epoch Technology Full Year 2023 Earnings: EPS: CN0.11 (vs CN0.16 in FY 2022) - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Tesla offers U.S. customers a month's trial of its driver-assist technology - Reuters - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Slam Dunk Technology: How AI Is Revolutionizing The Game Of Basketball - Forbes - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- China Environmental Technology and Bioenergy Holdings Full Year 2023 Earnings: CN0.03 loss per share (vs CN ... - Simply Wall St - March 31st, 2024 [March 31st, 2024]
- Vuma and Huawei team up to launch industry first 50G PON ... - Light Reading - July 15th, 2023 [July 15th, 2023]
- See What Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner Look Like With Aging ... - E! NEWS - July 15th, 2023 [July 15th, 2023]
- AFRL conducts swarm technology demonstration > ONE AFRL ... - afrl.af.mil - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Shell to use new AI technology in deep sea oil exploration - Reuters - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Former Google CEO says AI at 'center' of technology competition between US and China - Fox News - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Agriculture and technology combine to drive the industrys growth - Times of India - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Technology and the Skills Shortage - Financial Times - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- New License Agreement Announced for Next-Generation Base ... - BioPharm International - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Orion Governance Licenses Technology from GE to Deliver Next Generation Data Governance Solution - Yahoo Finance - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- World needs to be 'vigilant' as AI technology improves and ... - KTVZ - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- After Losing Son, Ridgefield Mother Pushes For Technology to Prevent Hot Car Deaths - NBC Connecticut - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- After last year's fan violence in Queretaro, has Fan ID technology ensured safety for Liga MX fans? - ESPN - ESPN - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Bleach: The Soul Reapers' Gigai Technology, Explained - CBR - Comic Book Resources - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Cogito Tech - Catalyzing Transformation in Global Healthcare ... - Business Standard - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Barriers to Use of Technology in Diabetes Management - Patient Care Online - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Blue technology startups presented at the inaugural Gulf Blue ... - The University of Southern Mississippi - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- CureVac files expanded patent lawsuit against Pfizer/BioNTech over ... - Reuters - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Harrison Ford defends use of de-ageing technology in new Indiana Jones film: I know that that is my face - Yahoo News - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Sanwo-Olu: Nigeria needs technology to compete with likes of China - Guardian Nigeria - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Prejudice in technology, and the necessity of time: Books in brief - Nature.com - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- New technology uses ordinary sunlight to disinfect drinking water ... - Stanford University News - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Incredible AI technology shows what UK cities will look like in 2050 - LADbible - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Your Firm and Your Tools - Top Technology Initiatives - CPAPracticeAdvisor.com - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Tom Hanks: I could appear in movies after death with AI technology - BBC - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Transform your career with Chief Technology Officer online course - Economic Times - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- e-Learning Jamaica Technology in Education Conference Slated for ... - Government of Jamaica, Jamaica Information Service - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Andrew Maynard | What's a Luddite? From Industrial Revolution to ... - TribDem.com - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- At Yale, Kaloyan Kolev used technology to create and to make ... - Yale News - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- This technology could alter the entire planet. These groups want every nation to have a say. - MIT Technology Review - April 17th, 2023 [April 17th, 2023]
- The secret lives of snakes and how Georgia College uses technology to study them - 13WMAZ.com - April 8th, 2023 [April 8th, 2023]
- Technology Innovation Institute to host 2nd 'Additive Manufacturing the Future' seminar in Abu Dhabi - Devdiscourse - April 8th, 2023 [April 8th, 2023]
- Can Array Technologies Inc (ARRY) Stock Rise to the Top of Technology Sector Thursday? - InvestorsObserver - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Here's Why We Think Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology (ETR:PFV) Might Deserve Your Attention Today - Simply Wall St - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- Will WM Technology Inc (MAPS) Stay at the Top of the Technology Sector? - InvestorsObserver - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- Ways in which technology can enhance the abilities of law enforcement agents to assist the community - Times of India - February 7th, 2023 [February 7th, 2023]
- Meet The Titans: Google And OpenView (Microsoft) Faceoff On Chat Technology Innovation - Forbes - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:MTSI) Stock Has Been Sliding But Fundamentals Look Strong: Is The Market Wrong? - Simply Wall St - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- WVU Dept. of Ophthalmology acquires state-of-the-art technology for simulation lab - WV News - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Executive Vice President of Technology & Operations Alok Sethi Just Sold A Bunch Of Shares In Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) - Simply Wall St - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Is Now The Time To Put Amkor Technology (NASDAQ:AMKR) On Your Watchlist? - Simply Wall St - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- There Are Reasons To Feel Uneasy About New Oriental Education & Technology Group's (NYSE:EDU) Returns On Capital - Simply Wall St - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- Technology has set us on a path toward one of two dystopian scenariosbut its not too late to save democracy - Fortune - January 17th, 2023 [January 17th, 2023]
- IonQ Acquires Entangled Networks And Locks In Quantum Networking Technology Critical To Its Future Success - Forbes - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Industrialization 3.0 - How Technology, Wall Street, And The Government Can Help The US Win In A World Of Re-Industrialization - Forbes - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Connect with aspirational India through technology and work in interest of world: Anurag Thakur to NRIs - Economic Times - January 8th, 2023 [January 8th, 2023]