Europe’s sewer networks are essential for safeguarding public health, the environment, and urban quality of life. However, they are increasingly strained. Ageing infrastructure, underinvestment, and escalating climate risks threaten their functionality. In many cities, reliable data on these underground systems’ condition is scarce—inspections are expensive and labour-intensive. The consequence: frequent overflows, unexpected failures, and rising maintenance costs.

With AI:Liner, we are developing digital innovations driven by artificial intelligence that facilitate predictive, resource-efficient, and data-driven sewer maintenance. In collaboration with international partners, we are shaping the digital transformation of wastewater management.

At the core of AI:Liner is the development of intelligent tools for assessing conditions, planning rehabilitation, and predicting the service life of sewer systems. Our aim is to minimise the number of on-site inspections, enhance rehabilitation efficiency, and reliably evaluate the lifespan of trenchless rehabilitation methods such as cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liners. To achieve this, we integrate three streams of innovation:

1. Next-generation monitoring technologies
   We are developing high-performance sensing solutions, including acoustic sensors to evaluate liner integrity, satellite-based remote sensing to detect soil movement, and autonomous drones for visual inspection of hard-to-access pipe sections.

2. Artificial intelligence in asset management
   Managing large volumes of inspection data requires the development of new methods. AI:Liner uses AI-driven models for automatic defect classification, generates predictive condition assessments for uninspected sections, and supports strategic investment planning – including sustainability metrics such as carbon footprints.

3. Focus on infrastructure renovation
   In recent decades, renovation and repair techniques have developed as alternatives to traditional excavation methods for sewer replacement. AI:Liner seeks to enhance our understanding of the ageing processes of liners and to establish new quality control standards for evaluating their structural condition.

Collaborating with sewer network operators in Berlin and Madrid, we implement and evaluate solutions under real-world conditions. AI:Liner expands its demonstration activities through a network of eight city ambassadors: Lausanne, Tokyo, Kremenchuk, Porto, Lyon, Sofia, Rotterdam and Milan. These partners enhance the case studies by testing solutions in varied contexts and promoting knowledge exchange among large utilities. Their feedback on transferability, drivers, and barriers will guide product development to ensure adaptability and relevance across different settings.

At AI:Liner, we regard digitalisation not only as a technological challenge but also as a societal transition. That’s why we actively support acceptance and skills development among utility staff and network operators – for instance, through interactive training formats.

Simultaneously, we place a strong emphasis on ethical AI principles: data protection, transparency, and cybersecurity are integrated into our system architecture from the outset.

As the project coordinator, KWB leads the consortium activities and shapes the overall scientific direction. As the technical partner, KWB will improve the SEMAplus software for asset management by incorporating advanced AI algorithms for condition assessment, rehabilitation planning, and investment strategies. A new data management and interoperability module will facilitate easier adoption of the solution by additional cities. We will monitor liner conditions on-site and develop models to describe liner deterioration in various urban contexts. Finally, we will strengthen our data governance framework to ensure data quality and transparency, and to ensure full compliance with the Artificial Intelligence Act.

With AI:Liner, we aim to future-proof Europe’s sewer infrastructure. Our goal is to go beyond developing new tools: we want to deliver durable, real-world solutions that enhance public services for generations to come.