L2M – Scalable 3D Digital Twin Creation for Large Scale Infrastructure Using Autonomous UAVs, NeRF, and Metaverse Platform

In Canada’s remote and weather-challenged regions, inspecting critical infrastructure like bridges or monitoring agricultural sites such as vertical farms often involves costly, dangerous, and infrequent field visits. This project explores whether there is a commercial market for a new platform that enables engineers to perform these inspections remotely, using virtual reality (VR), autonomous drones, and artificial intelligence.

The technology creates high-detail 3D digital replicas—called “digital twins”—of real-world assets like bridges. It uses drones to collect data, AI to automatically detect cracks or damage, and VR to let users inspect and collaborate without needing to be on site. The aim of this project is not to develop the technology further, but to validate whether infrastructure owners and operators would actually buy and use it. Through interviews with companies like Manitoba Hydro and municipal inspection teams, we will identify pain points, test pricing models, and determine how this system could best support Canada’s infrastructure needs.

If successful, this solution could significantly reduce inspection costs, improve safety, and help ensure early detection of problems in hard-to-reach areas—ultimately making Canada’s infrastructure smarter, safer, and more resilient.

Faculty Supervisor:

Young-jin Cha

Student:

Partner:

North Forge

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education; Management of companies and enterprises; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: