Technological innovation generates its greatest value when it becomes a practical tool for institutions: when it enables them to better understand their assets, make more informed decisions, and direct resources toward the most urgent needs.
With this vision in mind, ViaSky is launching a major collaboration with the “Mediterranea” University of Reggio Calabria—and specifically with its Department of Architecture— to monitor structures and infrastructure using MOOD, a platform that integrates advanced robotics, digital data acquisition, and artificial intelligence. This partnership focuses not only on innovation but, above all, on the concrete opportunities that innovation can offer the university.
For ViaSky, this collaboration is a source of great pride, and for the University, it represents an opportunity to have access to an advanced tool to support the understanding, management, and maintenance of its built environment.
MOOD: Anomalies Detected and Displayed in Real Time
During monitoring missions, data collected by robotic systems and drones is transmitted to the platform. Artificial intelligence algorithms analyze the images in real time and display the detected anomalies on screen, highlighting them directly on the transmitted image: the defect is thus visually pinpointed the very moment it is detected, making it easier to identify critical issues immediately.
MOOD also supports the analysis of water infiltration using data captured by thermal imaging cameras and processed using AI algorithms, helping to identify and investigate thermal anomalies that may be caused by water infiltration or moisture. The information collected is organized and made available for review within a single digital environment.
To learn more about MOOD, CLICK HERE.
Digital Twin and Defect Reports: Data That Becomes an Operational Tool
One of MOOD’s key outputs is the digital twin: a three-dimensional model of a structure or infrastructure on which smart markers associate detected anomalies and defects with their specific locations. The model thus becomes an informative representation of the structure, which can be consulted and updated over time.
The platform also allows users to generate defect reports structured in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation, taking into account the weightings and priority classes specified in the applicable ministerial guidelines. These reports help document critical issues and organize the information needed to assess and plan corrective actions.
Greater planning capacity, lower inspection costs
The value of collaboration is measured above all by its benefits for the University. Having access to structured data, images with highlighted anomalies, three-dimensional models, and defect reports means having a concrete knowledge base for identifying priorities, justifying the need for action, and planning resources more effectively.
This documentation can support the preparation of projects and funding applications, helping to more clearly articulate the needs of the cultural heritage and facilitate access to funds and resources earmarked for priority initiatives. It is not a guarantee of funding, but rather a set of technical and documentary elements that can strengthen the institution’s ability to plan and propose initiatives.
The digital approach also makes it possible to optimize data collection and analysis, reduce the need for repetitive and costly inspections, and lower the overall cost of monitoring. In this way, the University can allocate more of its available resources to assessment, design, and intervention activities, avoiding the excessive financial burden associated with traditional inspections and analyses.
A partnership that looks to the future
MOOD is designed as a collaborative ecosystem that connects structural engineers, architects, technicians, maintenance managers, and facility managers, fostering the sharing of information and the contribution of diverse expertise. The collaboration with the Department of Architecture thus creates a valuable environment for experimenting with new applications, developing digital management processes, and exploring the potential of artificial intelligence in the preservation of the built heritage.
For ViaSky, this initiative represents a significant step forward in its mission: to put technology at the service of institutions and the local community. For the Mediterranean University, it means being able to leverage a wealth of information useful for day-to-day management and future planning, using tools that promote more informed, timely, and economically sustainable maintenance.
True innovation does not consist merely in identifying an anomaly, but in enabling an institution to understand it, document it, set priorities, and mobilize the necessary resources to take action.
