Israel Railways Unveils AI to Map Underground Infrastructure

Imagine knowing exactly what's buried beneath every street before breaking ground on a new project. Israel Railways and tech company Exodigo just made that possible with AI-powered underground mapping unveiled at CES 2025.

The system uses artificial intelligence to create precise 3D maps of everything hidden underground: pipes, cables, tunnels, and utility lines. It works without digging a single hole, saving cities time, money, and major headaches.

For Israel Railways, this means safer and faster infrastructure projects. Workers can now see underground obstacles before they start construction, preventing accidental damage to water mains, electrical lines, or fiber optic cables. What used to take weeks of exploratory digging now happens in days with scanning technology.

The timing couldn't be better. Cities worldwide are upgrading aging infrastructure while adding new systems for renewable energy and smart technology. Every year, construction crews accidentally strike underground utilities thousands of times, causing service disruptions, injuries, and millions in repairs.

The Ripple Effect

This technology extends far beyond railways. City planners can use it to design better infrastructure layouts, utility companies can maintain networks more efficiently, and emergency responders can access accurate underground maps during crises.

Countries dealing with rapid urbanization stand to benefit most. Instead of guessing what lies beneath decades-old streets, they'll have precise data to guide development. That means fewer surprise delays, lower construction costs, and safer communities.

The partnership represents Israel's growing leadership in infrastructure technology. Exodigo has already worked with projects across multiple countries, and this railway collaboration proves the system works at scale for critical transportation networks.

Why This Inspires

Sometimes the most exciting innovations solve problems we didn't realize were solvable. For generations, what lay underground remained a mystery until someone dug it up. This technology turns that uncertainty into clarity, transforming how we build and maintain the systems modern life depends on.

The real beauty is in the prevention. Every avoided pipeline strike means neighborhoods keep their water and power. Every accurate map means construction projects finish on time and on budget. Every city that adopts this technology builds smarter and safer.

As more transportation networks and municipalities adopt AI-powered underground mapping, we're looking at a future where infrastructure development becomes faster, cheaper, and dramatically safer for everyone involved.