Taipei:There will soon be a free artificial intelligence (AI) tool available to the public that enables users to upload photos of structural components in their homes for a preliminary assessment of potential earthquake damage, as announced by its government-run developer.
According to Focus Taiwan, the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) has developed the tool, named "safe and seismic-resistant home AI," which is expected to be launched on the center's website by the end of this week.
Users will be able to upload photos of beams, columns, and walls, and the system will quickly evaluate the apparent level of damage. This will assist in determining whether further inspection by a professional engineer is necessary, as explained by the NCREE during a press conference. The tool is a simplified version of an AI model initially developed to help experts rapidly assess earthquake damage to buildings.
The original model, developed in collaboration with National Taiwan University's Department of Civil Engineering, was trained on 8,000 photos of damaged structural components from Taiwan and overseas. It can classify damage in about one second. The public version of the tool classifies structural components into three categories severe damage, indicating danger; moderate damage, requiring caution; and minor damage or no obvious damage. Individuals receiving either of the first two classifications are advised to consult a professional engineer.
Associate researcher Chang Wei-tze emphasized that the system operates anonymously and does not collect data for third-party use. He likened the tool to a rapid test for a cold, providing a preliminary assessment before professional evaluation, which may take several months. However, he stressed that the AI tool is only a reference and does not replace a professional engineer's assessment. The tool offers a first step in supporting local governments to develop policies that could reduce personnel burden and improve assessment accuracy.
Furthermore, the NCREE will provide a more advanced AI model to help professional engineers evaluate damaged buildings after earthquakes, slated for availability to the Hualien County government and the Taiwan Residential Earthquake Insurance Fund to expedite damage assessments. Additionally, the NCREE has developed an AI assistant to coordinate water supplies for firefighting in Taipei, which has managed over 3,000 fire cases since its launch in February 2026.