A Swiss startup\u2019s wave physics software, which was originally designed to study the Red Planet, has now been transforming infrastructure safety on Earth after being adapted to detect hidden damage in bridges, pipelines, and aircraft parts.<\/p>\n
Mondaic, a spin-off company from ETH Zurich, utilizes the same tech that once helped scientists understand the interior of Mars to inspect critical infrastructure on Earth without the need for drilling or damage. <\/p>\n
Founded by Christian Boehm and his fellow team members Michael Afanasiev and Lion Krischer in 2018, the startup emerged from the university\u2019s Seismology and Wave Physics group.<\/p>\n
It was established after the trio realized that the same modeling tools used to analyze seismic data from NASA\u2019s InSight Mars mission could have powerful applications on Earth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat allowed us to probe the Red Planet back then is today helping us to look inside bridges, aircraft parts, or other materials without having to cut them open or drill into them, Boehm, Mondaic\u2019s managing director, explained.<\/p>\n
Boehm and his teammates therefore developed models and simulators<\/a> that allowed them to infer the inner structure of Mars from this data, revealing details about the planet\u2019s crust and core. <\/p>\n However, they soon realized that the same wave-based techniques could be applied to solid structures on Earth. <\/p>\n The scientists began applying the tools to detect structural flaws such as cracks, voids, or water infiltration<\/a> in man-made objects like bridges and aircraft components.<\/p>\n The technology includes sending waves through solid objects and using sensors to detect how internal features alter their movement. By comparing this data to a precise digital model, or digital twin<\/a>, of the object, Mondaic\u2019s software can detect inconsistencies that point to damage or structural irregularities.<\/p>\n \u201cFor example, we use our software to simulate how an ultrasonic wave should move through the pipeline if it\u2019s undamaged,\u201d Boehm stated. <\/p>\n He then explained the process using a pipeline example. If the waveform of the real pipeline differs from its digital twin, it signals a problem. This helps the team identify and locate issues such as cracks.<\/p>\n From science to reality<\/p>\n The team revealed that transforming a research tool into a real-world product wasn\u2019t easy. \u201cWe had to rethink everything to make the software stable and user-friendly and to automate the application fully \u2013 from the measurement data to the finished image,\u201d Boehm stated.<\/p>\n Today, the platform combines precise wave physics<\/a> with cloud-based computing, allowing complex analyses that once required supercomputers to be completed in minutes on the cloud.<\/p>\n \u201cThe efficiency of modern cloud solutions makes our technology competitive and suitable for everyday use, including outside the world of research,\u201d Boehm said.<\/p>\n Now offering a full-stack solution that includes software, sensors, consulting, and cloud support, Mondaic\u2019s system is designed to be used by infrastructure teams with no background in wave physics.<\/p>\n The software boasts a wide range of uses. As per the research team, it helped uncover a hidden corridor in the Great Pyramid<\/a> in Egypt, assess earthquake risk, and monitor nuclear tests.<\/p>\n In Switzerland, the startup works with the Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) to inspect bridges by sending ultrasonic waves through components and analyzing the results. This helps detect issues like air pockets, water damage, or faulty joints early and allows timely repairs.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the technology also has potential applications in the aerospace industry. It detected manufacturing damage in aircraft-grade carbon fiber components during tests with ETH Zurich and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW).<\/p>\n