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After Iran’s missile strikes, Israeli team develops rapid AI building-map tool

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Israeli researchers developed an AI tool to provide rapid building data to first responders after Iran's missile strikes exposed gaps in structural information.
  • The system, developed by Technion and University of Haifa researchers, aims to significantly reduce the time needed to reach survivors trapped in collapsed buildings.
  • Previously, emergency teams relied on slow manual retrieval of paper building permits, taking up to 30 minutes to access crucial structural data.

Following two rounds of war with Iran, Israeli researchers have created an artificial intelligence system designed to provide first responders with near-instant building data. This innovation aims to drastically cut the time required to reach survivors trapped in collapsed structures, addressing critical gaps exposed during recent missile attacks.

The chaos resulting from Iranian ballistic missile fire, which caused widespread building collapses, highlighted the severe lack of real-time structural information available to rescue units. This prompted researchers to accelerate their work on Israel's extensive archive of architectural records.

Developed by teams from the Technion's Housing Lab and the Elijah Lab at the University of Haifa, the project gained new urgency during Operation Roaring Lion. Professor Yael Allweil of the Technion noted the unexpected relevance of their historical research in the face of immediate wartime needs. "It was a surprise for us, as historians, to be relevant right now," she stated.

It was a surprise for us, as historians, to be relevant right now.

— Yael AllweilProfessor Yael Allweil of the Technion commenting on the unexpected wartime relevance of her team's architectural research.

Previously, emergency personnel relied on printed building permits stored in municipal archives, a process that could take at least 30 minutes to safely enter a damaged building. The new AI system, however, can interrogate complex building data within seconds, allowing for quicker assessment and response, especially when multiple sites are affected.

"Why not know within 30 seconds and be able to assess the situation quicker, especially if there’s more than one site?" Allweil questioned, emphasizing the system's potential to save lives by enabling faster access to victims.

Each city has an emergency war room, and whenever a building was hit, people would print out the building permit and send it by courier to get it to the location for first responders. The first responders needed those printouts before they could even go in, and that took around 30 minutes. Why not know within 30 seconds and be able to assess the situation quicker, especially if there’s more than one site?

— Yael AllweilProfessor Yael Allweil explaining the previous delays in accessing building information and the advantage of the new AI system.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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