Software originally developed for NASA’s Mars InSight mission is now revolutionizing non-destructive testing (NDT) of bridges, pipelines, and aircraft. Swiss startup Mondaic, a spin-off of ETH Zurich, has adapted seismic wave modeling algorithms once used to study the Red Planet into a powerful inspection tool for infrastructure on Earth.
The method works by transmitting ultrasonic waves through materials, recording their propagation with sensors, and comparing results against a digital twin. Discrepancies in expected versus actual wave patterns reveal hidden cracks, voids, or moisture penetration before they surface.
According to Christian Boehm, co-founder and CEO of Mondaic, “the very tools that once helped us peer into the depths of the red planet now allow us to inspect the inside of concrete beams, pipelines, or aircraft parts without cutting or drilling.”
The company has already partnered with the Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) on bridge inspections and tested the technology on aviation composites with ETH Zurich and FHNW. Cloud-based processing enables analyses that once required supercomputers to be completed in minutes, making advanced diagnostics scalable and accessible.
Unlike traditional NDT techniques such as radiography, magnetic particle inspection, or classic ultrasound—which often provide localized results and depend heavily on operator expertise—the wave-based approach reconstructs a three-dimensional view inside structures, automates interpretation, and avoids ionizing radiation. The system is delivered as a complete stack of sensors, software, consulting, and cloud processing, facilitating seamless integration into routine monitoring programs.
The implications extend beyond civil infrastructure. The technology is also poised to benefit the aerospace and space sectors, offering more reliable NDT for rocket tanks, carbon composites, and ground facilities. At the same time, improvements in inversion models and signal processing for Earth applications will feed back into space exploration, enhancing seismic data interpretation from future missions to the Moon, Mars, or asteroids.
By closing the loop between space research and terrestrial engineering, Mondaic’s adaptation of Martian algorithms is pushing NDT into a new era—delivering safer bridges, aircraft, and pipelines while advancing planetary science.
Reference: https://universemagazine.com/en/martian-algorithms-help-find-cracks-in-bridges-and-airplanes/
