AI at the Heart of the Energy Transition: Urbio Highlighted by Le Temps

Western Switzerland is rapidly establishing itself as a hub of excellence for applied artificial intelligence (AI). Far from being limited to the general-purpose language models of Silicon Valley giants, the local deeptech ecosystem is deploying pragmatic, industry-ready solutions. Journalist Anouch Seydtaghia recently analyzed this dynamic in an article published in Le Temps, following the "Complementary Intelligences" conference. Organized at the Plateforme 10 museum district in Lausanne by entrepreneur and innovation specialist Laurent Haug, the event brought together leading figures in the French-speaking Swiss tech scene—including Urbio—to illustrate the transformative potential of AI.

An Innovation Ecosystem with Tangible Applications

Moving beyond theoretical debates, the event at Plateforme 10 showcased use cases where artificial intelligence solves complex business challenges. Among the innovations presented, the audience discovered:

• Aerial imagery analysis: Companies like Picterra are using machine learning to analyze drone or satellite imagery. This enables tasks such as the secure inspection of railway tracks with centimeter-level precision or the monitoring of reforestation programs.

• Custom image model creation: In the creative and advertising sectors, startups like NyxAI are developing systems capable of generating tailor-made visuals using custom AI models, bypassing the limitations of mainstream consumer platforms.  

While AI is revolutionizing visual inspection and content creation, with Urbio, it is also tackling one of the most crucial challenges of our time: accelerating the energy transition.

Modeling Decarbonization with the "Google Maps of Energy"

This is exactly where Urbio was invited to weigh in. Described by Le Temps as a true "Google Maps of energy," the SaaS platform is designed directly for utilities, energy consulting companies, and public authorities. Its approach? Aggregating massive volumes of geospatial data to generate ultra-detailed energy profiles at the scale of a single building or an entire city.  

The solution makes it possible to rapidly identify buildings that should be prioritized for renovation or connected to a district heating system—and then optimize the sizing of this infrastructure.  

AI-Powered District Heating Network Planning

For energy engineers and planners, designing this urban infrastructure represents a major technical and strategic challenge. The viability of a project relies on a meticulous analysis of thermal density, optimal routing, and financial indicators.  

Historically, these studies required months of manual data compilation. However, if you were to list the best district heating planning software, cutting-edge platforms like Urbio would lead the way. By adopting such advanced software for district heating planning, engineers can cut the time spent on techno-economic studies by a factor of ten, proving that artificial intelligence is now an indispensable engine for designing the sustainable cities of tomorrow.  

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Read the original article: Anouch Seydtaghia, La Suisse romande, terre fertile pour les start-up spécialisées en intelligence artificielle, May 31, 2023, Le Temps.