Airfield AI™, enables safer, faster, and more accurate runway inspections using AI-driven defect detection.
Revolutionizing airfield inspections with artificial intelligence (AI)
Airside infrastructure requires continuous monitoring to ensure safety, operational continuity, and long-term resilience. Traditional inspection methods—clipboards, manual walkthroughs, and time-intensive data entry—often fall short in today’s high-tempo environments. Tetra Tech’s Airfield AI solution, powered by FusionMap®, redefines the inspection process with AI-driven crack detection and geospatial analytics.
Using drones or vehicle-mounted cameras, field teams can scan runways without halting operations. The captured high-resolution imagery is uploaded directly into FusionMap, where machine learning algorithms automatically detect cracks, surface damage, and early pavement distress. Airfield AI delivers insights that are eight times faster than traditional methods—without sacrificing reliability or safety.
Airfield AI delivers actionable crack and defect data in minutes, giving field teams the insight they need to act fast, stay safe, and inspect smarter.
Delivering rapid, high-accuracy inspections at Calgary International Airport (YYC)
Tetra Tech used Airfield AI to inspect more than 3 million square meters of runway, taxiway, and apron pavement at Calgary International YYC, one of Canada’s busiest airports. Using drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and proprietary AI models, the team completed a comprehensive survey in under 40 hours without disrupting airport operations.
The resulting dataset provided a detailed, high-resolution view of pavement conditions, enabling airport staff to evaluate surface integrity, prioritize repairs, and support long-term maintenance planning. Compared to conventional inspection methods, the AI-based workflow significantly reduces manual effort. The system delivered 96 percent accuracy in defect detection, 3-millimeter spatial precision, and captured 10 types of asset inventory while allowing airport operations to continue uninterrupted.
96%
defect detection accuracy
8x faster
than traditional means
3mm
spatial accuracy
Actionable data in minutes, not days
Time is critical when managing runway infrastructure. With Airfield AI, inspection teams gain actionable data in minutes instead of days, allowing faster decisions and more focused repairs. The system automatically sizes and classifies each crack or defect, then maps it to an interactive, georeferenced interface. This enables teams to visualize deterioration patterns, monitor changes over time, and plan interventions with confidence.
The solution centralizes notes, images, and measurements in one place, eliminating the fragmentation that slows inspections. Crews can prioritize repairs based on severity and location, respond more efficiently, and minimize operational disruption.
Airfield defect mapping using AI in the FusionMap platform
Supporting large-scale, proactive maintenance
Airfield AI does more than accelerate inspections—it shifts airfield maintenance from a reactive model to a proactive strategy. The tool empowers operators to intervene before issues escalate by identifying early-stage deterioration and visualizing damage trends. This improves not only safety and compliance, but also budgeting accuracy and long-term asset management.
For airports managing expansive pavement networks, Airfield AI delivers measurable results. With built-in measurement, tagging, and tracking tools, Airfield AI supports full lifecycle monitoring, from initial detection to repair verification. Whether supporting daily inspections or long-term capital planning, it’s a scalable solution for airports, airbases, and safety contractors. Airfield AI can help your team detect defects earlier, inspect faster, and make smarter maintenance decisions across your airfield infrastructure.
Ready to modernize your runway inspections? Contact us at [email protected].