In today’s data-driven world, organizations increasingly recognize the immense potential hidden within their data streams. Unlocking that potential requires more than just collecting data; it demands sophisticated tools and strategies to transform raw information into actionable intelligence. gNext Labs has made it their mission to do just that.
The company’s software-as-a-service (SaaS)-based inspection and data management platform fuels data-driven operations across a wide array of industries. It integrates data from drones and other sources with cutting-edge technologies like computer vision, machine learning and 3D modeling to enhance infrastructure integrity and optimize operational efficiency. gNext has also curated a powerful ecosystem of partners with and through whom it powers these insights.
On a recent Dawn of Autonomy podcast, Bret Gardner, gNext’s lead for Enterprise Sales – North America, provided an exclusive interview about this small but mighty company which has been (until now) flying under the radar…yet making a huge difference. This article provides highlights from that discussion.
The Idea, The Team and The Platform
Inspired by the advanced technology portrayed in the movie “The Matrix,” gNext’s CEO and co-founder, Abraham Lama Salomon, envisioned a future where robots could efficiently fix infrastructure. This vision, coupled with a related premonition of the future challenges associated with managing, organizing and analyzing the vast amounts of data generated, set Salomon on a path to create gNext Labs and its SaaS solution to streamline processes and unlock data’s true potential.
Shortly after the company’s start, Russ Ellis entered the picture as President to guide gNext’s growth. Ellis, a software entrepreneur, has over 30 years’ experience in building and operating impactful technology companies.
Just three years ago, Gardner joined to help move its mission forward in North America. Gardner brings his wealth of experience in business development and account management, which includes building $17.5M in utility inspection revenue, managing $1B+ pipelines and securing $7M in Series A funding prior to joining gNext.
Today, the company, now over seven years old, lives out its mission through its proprietary platform, at the heart of which is InspectAssist™, a significant leap forward in data fusion and analytics.
InspectAssist™: The Core of Data-Driven Ops
Traditional methods of infrastructure inspection have proven costly, time-consuming and oftentimes hazardous. As a result, asset owners have increasingly turned to drones and other sensors to gather data and create accurate models. gNext integrates that data and applies advanced analytics techniques to extract meaningful insights from it. Specifically, its platform, InspectAssist™, helps users to securely manage, organize, analyze, visualize and share the vast amounts of data they collect during these inspections.
InspectAssist™ transforms raw inspection data into actionable insights. It leverages AI-powered detection and quantification of defects. It uses computer vision and machine learning algorithms to automatically detect and classify these anomalies and other points of interest within inspection images and videos. Its key features include:
- AI-powered detection and quantification of defects in concrete and asphalt such as cracks, efflorescence, spalls, rust, exposed rebar and vegetation encroachment
- Change-over-time visualization for long-term infrastructure monitoring
- Advanced annotation tools to document and analyze defects
- SOC 2 Type II certified with firewall and intrusion detection, 99.999% disaster recovery, end-to-end encryption and US based AWS hosting for secure cloud processing to safeguard customer data at every level.
In terms of return on investment (ROI), now instead of manually reviewing thousands of images, inspectors can focus on the most critical issues the software identifies.This automated analysis significantly reduces the time and effort required to process inspection data. It not only improves efficiency, but also enhances the accuracy and consistency of inspections. This evolution has profound implications for a variety of stakeholders, not just the inspectors themselves.
Stakeholders and Benefits
Gardner identified what he refers to as the three key “food groups” (meaning stakeholder categories) that can significantly benefit from gNext’s SaaS product:
Asset Owners
Asset owners, such as utility companies, transportation agencies and large-scale infrastructure managers also form a crucial stakeholder group for gNext’s platform. It enables them to:
- Gain a comprehensive, digital view of their infrastructure assets
- Make data-driven decisions for maintenance, repair and capital planning
- Reduce inspection costs and improve safety by minimizing the need for physical inspections
- Extend the service life of assets through proactive maintenance based on AI-powered insights
- Optimize operations and resource allocation using real-time data and analytics
Consultants and Engineering Firms
The third “food” group consists of consultants, engineering firms and other professionals who provide expertise and services to asset owners. gNext’s platform empowers this group to:
- Access high-quality, organized data to inform their analysis and recommendations
- Collaborate more effectively with clients and other stakeholders using shared, cloud-based data and visualizations
- Enhance their service offerings by leveraging advanced analytics and AI-powered insights
- Improve the accuracy and timeliness of their assessments and reports
- Expand their capabilities without significantly increasing their resource requirements
Data Capture Service Providers
This group includes companies and professionals who specialize in collecting data using drones, sensors and other remote sensing technologies. gNext’s platform allows these service providers to:
- Efficiently process and organize large volumes of captured data
- Utilize advanced analytics tools to extract meaningful insights
- Deliver higher-value services to their clients by providing actionable intelligence rather than just raw data
- Scale their operations by handling more projects with the same resources
By catering to these three groups, gNext’s SaaS platform creates a powerful ecosystem that streamlines data-driven operations across various industries. This approach not only benefits each stakeholder group individually but also fosters collaboration throughout the infrastructure management and inspection process. And these various stakeholders work across a wide range of industries.
Impacts Across Multiple Industries
gNext serves industries that rely on accurate inspections. This includes transportation, utilities, construction and government agencies. In fact, gNext’s platform has tailored 42 asset types available to select from when scheduling processing. Specifically, gNext’s data-driven solutions have leveled up operations across a wide range of industries. gNext helps:
Utilities
…to maintain the integrity of their power lines, pipelines and other critical infrastructure assets. By detecting potential issues early on, gNext enables proactive maintenance, reducing the risk of outages and ensuring reliable service delivery. For example, Southern Company, one of the largest U.S. utility providers, uses gNext to manage inspections across 27,000 miles of energy distribution lines. It streamlines data collection and improves asset monitoring.
Transportation
…agencies that inspect bridges, tunnels and roadways. The platform’s ability to identify structural defects and monitor asset condition helps ensure the safety and reliability of transportation infrastructure.
Oil and Gas (O&G)
…O&G companies inspect pipelines, storage tanks and other facilities. By detecting leaks, corrosion, and other potential hazards, gNext helps prevent accidents and protect the environment.
Renewable Energy
…support the inspection and maintenance of wind turbines, solar panels and other renewable energy assets. The platform’s ability to identify damaged components and optimize performance helps maximize energy production and reduce costs.
Telecommunications
….to assist telecommunications companies in inspecting cell towers, antennas and other infrastructure assets. By detecting structural issues and ensuring proper equipment installation, gNext helps maintain network reliability and optimize signal coverage.
Civil Engineering
…to empower civil engineers with detailed data and insights for infrastructure design, construction and maintenance. The platform’s 3D modeling capabilities and analytics tools enhance decision-making and improve project outcomes.
Government
…by providing government agencies with a comprehensive platform for managing and monitoring public infrastructure assets. The platform’s data-driven insights support informed policy decisions and efficient resource allocation. gNext also offers gIntelligence, a cloud-based solution designed for federal, state and local governments to improve efficiency and cost savings for large-scale infrastructure inspection, modeling and asset condition management.
Construction
…with construction progress monitoring, quality control, and safety management.
All of these industries benefit from gNext because the platform saves up to 60% of the cost and time compared to traditional inspections and allows nearly twice the number of inspections on the same budget.
gNext also remains drone and sensor agnostic. It works seamlessly with products from a range of manufacturers such as PhaseOne, Skydio and Wingtra, as well as satellite, crewed, uncrewed, mobile aerial, terrestrial, thermal, sonar and biometric lidar.
A Robust Ecosystem of Partners
gNext recognizes that collaboration remains essential to deliver comprehensive solutions. To that end, the company has formed a robust ecosystem of partners, including drone and sensor manufacturers, software developers and industry experts. These partnerships enable gNext to integrate best-in-class technologies and provide customers with tailored solutions that meet their specific needs. A few of its notable strategic partnerships include:
- Skydio: Enhances drone capabilities for data collection and cloud to cloud integration.
- InTerra: Improves survey accuracy with advanced survey technologies like InTerra’s SmarTarget.
- LiveU: Enables seamless data transfer from remote locations, improving real-time data processing.
- Wispr Systems: Provides high-quality sensors for precise data capture.
In short, gNext partners with the leading drone and sensor manufacturers for the most high-quality data collections, as well as integrates with advanced analytics and survey technologies.
Looking Ahead: The Future of gNext
As data continues to grow in volume and complexity, the need for end-to-end data management and analytics solutions will only intensify. With its cutting-edge technology, industry expertise, and commitment to collaboration, gNext has positioned itself well to meet this growing demand.
As for what lies ahead, expect to see gNext expand its platform capabilities to incorporate new data sources, more advanced analytics techniques, new AI InspectAssist™ use cases, and user-friendly interfaces. According to Gardner, gNext plans to build advisory communities aimed at better solving customer problems. The company hopes to forge even more strategic partnerships to continue to grow its vibrant ecosystem.
In the meantime, gNext will simply keep empowering organizations across industries to make smarter decisions, optimize performance and build a better tomorrow.
By: Dawn Zoldi