OVOVTEC.org

AI-Assisted Quality Checks: The Future

Mar 12, 2025

Human judgment will always be central to OVOVTEC. But as the number of reports grows, so does the need for tools that can help analyze them at scale. That’s where AI-assisted quality checks come in.

Why AI Matters for Infrastructure Oversight

Reviewing thousands of photos of roads, bridges, and buildings is time-consuming. AI can:

  • Quickly scan images for common red flags (cracks, exposed rebar, uneven surfaces).
  • Suggest whether a project looks “up to standard” or potentially “substandard.”
  • Help prioritize which reports need immediate human review.

This doesn’t mean AI replaces experts—it acts as a force multiplier.

How OVOVTEC Uses AI

From the start, OVOVTEC has been designed with AI in mind:

  • All photos, videos, and project data collected are stored in a way that makes them usable for training a machine learning model.
  • The model is trained on a substantial dataset of example projects labeled by human experts.
  • Over time, as new reports come in, the model keeps learning, improving its ability to spot red flags.

Eventually, the goal is simple: a citizen can take a few photos of a newly built structure, upload them, and receive an AI-assisted assessment indicating whether the project appears up to standard or might need a closer look.

Human-in-the-Loop: Keeping People in Charge

OVOVTEC is careful about how AI is introduced:

  • In early stages, AI assessments remain behind the scenes, used for internal testing and refinement.
  • Only after the model reaches high accuracy will its suggestions appear in the user interface.
  • Even then, AI will provide recommendations, not final decisions—experts always have the last word.

This human-in-the-loop approach ensures that AI supports, rather than overrides, community judgment.

Benefits for Remote and Underserved Areas

AI is especially promising for:

  • Remote communities where OVOVTEC may not yet have a trained expert.
  • Areas with many projects but limited oversight capacity.

In those cases, AI can provide a first impression—a quick scan that flags potentially problematic projects for further review. That way, even communities far from major cities can benefit from advanced tools.