March/April 2024 - 99

Smart Foundations: Transforming
Engineering with AI, IoT and EDCs
In the dynamic landscape of foundation
engineering, where precision
and reliability are paramount, recent
technological advancements have
heralded a new era of sophistication
and efficiency. At the core of this
transformation is the integration of
artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet
of Things (IoT) and embedded data
collectors (EDCs), each playing a pivotal
role in redefining traditional practices.
The current state of foundation engineering
is one characterized by a
heightened emphasis on data-driven
decision-making, predictive analysis
and enhanced safety protocols - all
underpinned by these technological
innovations.
The impact of AI, IoT and EDCs on
foundation engineering is profound. AI
algorithms, with their capacity for
processing vast amounts of data, offer
unprecedented insights into soil behavior
and structural integrity. IoT
brings a new dimension of connectivity,
enabling real-time monitoring and
communication between various
components of a construction project.
EDCs, integral to this network, provide
the crucial data that fuels both AI
analyses and IoT efficiency. Together,
these technologies are not just add-ons
but have become fundamental to the
field's advancement.
This article aims to delve into the
synergy of AI, IoT and EDCs within
foundation engineering, exploring how
their integration is shaping the future of
the industry. We will trace the evolution
of foundation practices from their
traditional roots to their current stateof-the-art
incarnations, highlighting
how these technologies are driving the
field towards more efficient, safe and
sustainable practices.
FEATURE ARTICLE
The Evolution of Foundation Engineering
Foundation engineering, a discipline as
old as construction itself, has witnessed
a remarkable evolution over the
centuries. Traditionally, foundation
design and construction were guided by
empirical knowledge and manual laborintensive
techniques. This approach,
while effective for its time, was limited
by the lack of precise tools for understanding
subsurface conditions and
predicting soil-structure interactions.
The advent of modern technology
brought significant changes. Early
technological advancements, such as
the introduction of dynamic pile testing
and static load testing, offered more
AUTHORS Aneesh Goly, Ph.D., P.E., Smart Structures
DEEP FOUNDATIONS * MAR/APR 2024 * 99
reliable and quantifiable approaches to
understanding the behavior of piles
under various load conditions. These
methods marked the beginning of a shift
toward more scientifically rigorous
practices in foundation engineering.
However, the most transformative
change has been the industry's move
toward data-driven methodologies.
This transition was spurred by the
development of sophisticated instruments
and software capable of collecting,
analyzing and interpreting vast
amounts of data related to soil properties
and structural responses. The
emergence of EDCs played a key role in
March/April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March/April 2024
