How AI is helping New Zealand build safer after disaster
When the earth shakes and buildings need rebuilding, New Zealand's engineers are now getting help from an AI mate that knows its soil and rock.
Key takeaway Beca's BEYON is cutting data retrieval time for complex geological info by 40 percent, so Kiwi builders can make smarter, safer decisions faster.
After natural disasters, engineers need to understand complex soil and rock data to rebuild safely. That's where Beca's BEYON comes in - an AI-powered digital twin built on Microsoft Foundry that includes a conversational agent, letting engineers ask questions and get answers without drowning in data.
The real kicker? It cuts data retrieval time by 40 percent. For a country that knows its way around earthquakes, slips, and floods, that's not just a nice-to-have. It means faster decisions, better-informed building, and ultimately, safer communities getting back on their feet quicker.
It's a practical example of how AI isn't just about flashy tech - it's about solving real Kiwi problems when it matters most.
“Turns out the best disaster recovery plan involves asking an AI what the ground's actually made of.” — The Main Anchor, The 6 O’Clock News