By Chioma Obinna

A Nigerian infrastructure innovation advocate, Ewe Evans Chinedum, has called for the integration of intelligent sensing and artificial intelligence systems into buildings across the country, saying such measures could help detect structural and environmental risks before they escalate into costly failures.

Chinedum, who introduced the concept known as AfaSense, said many buildings in Nigeria do not collapse suddenly but often show subtle warning signs long before visible damage occurs.

According to him, minor structural vibrations, intermittent electrical overheating, rising humidity levels, dust infiltration, and prolonged heat stress frequently go unnoticed until they result in expensive repairs or safety hazards.

He argued that the core issue is not always poor architectural design but the absence of embedded monitoring systems capable of providing continuous awareness of a building’s condition.

Drawing an analogy with human biology, Chinedum explained that just as the nervous system enables the body to sense and respond to danger, modern architecture can be designed to “feel” and interpret environmental and structural signals.

“The AfaSense framework introduces a structural and environmental nervous system into buildings by integrating sensing technology, artificial intelligence, climate-responsive materials and safety optimisation systems into a unified design approach,” he said.

He noted that the concept focuses on creating two key layers of awareness within buildings — structural monitoring and environmental monitoring. Structural systems would track load stress, vibration patterns and early signs of material fatigue, while environmental systems would monitor factors such as air quality, temperature balance, humidity accumulation, airflow stability and occupancy density.

According to him, data collected from embedded sensors can be transmitted in real time to intelligent processing platforms where artificial intelligence models analyse patterns, detect anomalies and generate early warning signals.

Chinedum further emphasised the importance of climate-responsive materials in building design, particularly in regions of Nigeria affected by environmental pressures such as dust-laden winds and intense solar heat. He explained that buildings can be constructed with adaptive materials tailored to specific environmental exposures.

For instance, he suggested that pollution-absorbing or filtration-enhanced bricks could be deployed on façades facing northeastern winds that carry Saharan dust, while high thermal-mass or insulated recycled plastic bricks could be used on southern and western exposures to reduce heat absorption and stabilise indoor temperatures.

He also highlighted the potential for intelligent safety systems that can optimise emergency responses. In fire incidents, integrated heat and smoke detection technologies could analyse real-time conditions and dynamically guide occupants toward safer evacuation routes.

Chinedum said adopting intelligent infrastructure solutions would help shift Nigeria’s construction culture from reactive interventions to predictive resilience.

“Nigeria’s infrastructure challenge is not only about structural capacity; it is also about response timing. We often repair after damage or replace after failure. Embedding intelligence into buildings allows stakeholders to anticipate risks and act earlier,” he stated.

The AfaSense concept, he added, has attracted international attention, with its practical applications reportedly featured in global publications including Forbes Bahrain, CEO Weekly and Business Insider, reflecting growing interest in smart urban infrastructure solutions for emerging markets.