Utilities face several challenges: expanding and growing the grid, repairing disaster struck areas, and providing data where and when people need it. This all comes at a time when projects are becoming more complex in an industry that needs to consider multi-agency planning. The solution comes in the form of AI (artificial intelligence) and digital twins. Consider the example of Looq AI, which is a hardware-enabled AI company that has developed a new camera AI technology. The Looq platform is a deep technology stack, with a proprietary Q camera system. This allows data to be captured in the field that then gets processed with Looq’s AI-based image-to-model software in the cloud. Ultimately, this will create geo-referenced 3D digital twins and topographic maps with survey-grade accuracy and AI semantic information. Here is how this can help: Capture a large amount of survey-grade data without drones or hundreds of manhours. Get access to the complete information needed for critical decisionmaking, while achieving operational savings. Simplify the process of generating geometrically precise, geo-reference, and intelligent digital twins. Looking to the future, we know Looq AI has secured $2.6 million in seed funding, which brings its total raised to $3.75 million to date. Continue to keep an eye on this trend, as it will likely continue to grow, offering new opportunities for the digital twin in…

Today is Earth Day—what are you doing to protect the planet? Many businesses and individuals are taking the necessary steps to reduce carbon emissions, ultimately improving the environment for generations to come. Consider the example of 27-year-old Dillon Baster, who has an objective to convert upcycled agricultural waste into a compostable plastic alternative. To do this, he launched his company PlantSwitch, which has raised $20 million and is currently manufacturing 50 million pounds of its plant-based bioplastics annually. Here is how this can help: Break down in backyard compost in less than 12 months, leaving no microplastics behind. Resins feel and function like plastic. Resins are “drop-in” replacements, meaning plastics manufacturers can use their existing machines and processes. Ultimately, food service, cosmetics, supermarket, retail chains, packaged goods companies, and others will use this product to become more sustainable. On Earth Day—and every day—it is important to keep a pulse on the alternatives on the market. This is simply one…

Step aside Uber. In many countries, we are now seeing the rise of electric flights that are offering taxi services between cities. For example, Japan now has an electric air taxi. AutoFlight delivered the five-seater Prosperity aircraft to the operator, which will be named in the future. This comes on the heels of AutoFlight’s February announcement where it demonstrated inter-city electric air taxi demonstration flight between the southern Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai. AutoFlight’s Prosperity aircraft completed the trip by autonomously flying the 50km (31 miles) route. The flight across the Pearl River Delta took just 20 minutes, a journey that would require three hours by car. Here is how this can help: Push the boundaries of urban air mobility in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Enable people to travel to their destination faster than before. Offer multiple options for travel in the years ahead. Looking to the future, the route between Shenzhen and Zhuhai is part of the future air traffic scenario planned by the regional government as it develops its ‘low-altitude economy’ strategy. The future of travel is changing—certainly we will need to keep an eye on electric and autonomous trends in the years…