Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) are developing next-generation non-destructive testing (NDT) technologies aimed at significantly enhancing infrastructure safety while reducing maintenance and operational costs across sectors such as transportation, energy, and public utilities.
The institute’s Centre for Non-Destructive Evaluation (CNDE) is spearheading efforts to design advanced methods to assess the health of critical assets—such as pipelines, bridges, tanks, and dams—without the need for dismantling or causing damage. This Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) approach employs a range of technologies including X-rays, infrared thermography, lasers, ultrasonics, microwaves, and eddy current techniques.
Researchers are combining these traditional tools with cutting-edge advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), robotics, drones, hyperspectral imaging, and even quantum computing. This integration is expected to enable highly precise and scalable inspection systems that can transform asset management practices across industries.
The CNDE aims to help industries lower operational costs by up to 40%, improve asset uptime by 20%, and extend the service life of critical infrastructure components, according to project heads. In addition to industrial applications, the centre is developing solutions for broader societal challenges, including robotic systems to eliminate manual scavenging and AI-driven diagnostic tools for healthcare.
Highlighting the importance of such innovations, Krishnan Balasubramanian, a professor associated with the centre, said, “India handles 95% of its international trade through ports and has over 40,000 km of cross-country pipelines. These require continuous health monitoring.”
With India’s vast physical infrastructure, including the world’s second-largest road network and extensive railway and pipeline systems, researchers emphasize that scalable, cost-effective, and accurate testing technologies are critical to ensuring asset integrity and public safety.
The initiatives by IIT-Madras reflect a growing push towards integrating advanced technologies to modernize infrastructure maintenance and improve resilience against operational risks.
