Climate Change Heightens Sewage System Failures: How SewerAI is Pioneering Solutions
Climate change is increasingly jeopardizing sewage systems, leading to heightened risks, rising failure rates, and soaring costs. As flooding becomes more frequent, many wastewater treatment facilities are becoming overwhelmed by backups. Compounding the problem is the United States' aging infrastructure; the EPA estimates that nearly $700 billion will be required over the next 20 years to maintain existing wastewater, stormwater, and clean water pipelines.
Recognizing the urgent need for solutions, Matthew Rosenthal and Billy Gilmartin—two professionals from the wastewater treatment sector—co-founded SewerAI five years ago. Their innovative company harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to automate data capture and defect tagging during sewer inspections, addressing these pressing challenges.
“Most of our infrastructure was built after World War II and is reaching the end of its functional life, resulting in more frequent failures and escalating costs,” Rosenthal commented. “SewerAI is set to transform underground infrastructure inspection and management through our AI-driven software-as-a-service platform.”
What began as a side project for Rosenthal took shape during his online studies in AI, following his co-launch of two wastewater analysis firms. His journey into AI for predicting sewer defects led to a collaboration with Gilmartin, who was then employed at a sewer inspection company.
Streamlining Sewer Inspections with Advanced Technology
Today, SewerAI caters to municipalities, utility providers, and private contractors by offering cloud-based, AI-enhanced subscription products. These tools are designed to optimize the inspection process and streamline data management for sewer infrastructure.
One standout product, Pioneer, enables field inspectors to upload inspection data directly to the cloud and tag relevant issues, allowing project managers to devise effective repair strategies. Another innovation, AutoCode, automatically tags inspections for pipes and manholes, generating 3D models of infrastructure using videos recorded on a GoPro or similar camera.
“Traditional providers often rely on outdated on-premise or truck-based software that has seen minimal innovation in the past two decades,” Rosenthal noted. “SewerAI's technology drives efficiency and cost-effectiveness by enabling more inspections each day.”
SewerAI is not the only player in the emerging field of AI-enhanced pipe inspections. Competitors like Subterra, ClearObject, and Pallon offer various solutions for pipeline analysis and damage detection. However, Rosenthal asserts that SewerAI stands out due to the superior quality of its data, particularly its model training resources. The company boasts inspection footage of over 135 million feet of pipes from municipal and independent contractors—a substantial dataset for developing competitive defect-detection AI.
“Our innovative products enhance field inspections and data management, allowing clients to take a proactive approach towards infrastructure maintenance rather than merely responding to crises,” Rosenthal added.
Investor Confidence Fuels Growth
SewerAI's compelling vision has attracted investors, including Innovius Capital, which recently contributed to a $15 million funding round, pushing SewerAI's total raised funds to $25 million. This investment will be directed towards expanding market reach, refining AI models, recruiting talent, and diversifying SewerAI’s product offerings beyond inspection tools.
“We're witnessing an uptick in demand for our platform, enabling clients to maximize existing budgets. This growth has allowed us to secure our first seven-figure contracts,” Rosenthal explained.
By leveraging AI technology, SewerAI continues to pave new paths in sewage infrastructure management amid the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
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