Smart AI Spots Council Home Problems Before They Snowball!

Artificial intelligence, or AI, could soon help councils spot problems in council homes before they become serious. At the University of Cambridge, researchers are working with Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council to develop a new AI tool. This tool will scan data from thousands of council properties and highlight the ones most likely to develop issues, as well as the residents who could be affected. Professor Ronita Bardhan, one of the researchers, explained that this project is just the beginning, but she hopes it can be used by other councils across the country in the future.

The AI tool will combine three different types of data to create a risk score for each property. First, it will use thermal images taken by satellites to detect heat loss from buildings. If a home is losing a lot of heat, it could mean there are problems with insulation or windows. Second, the tool will use standard housing data, such as Energy Performance Certificates, which show how energy efficient a home is. Third, it will include anonymous records of when tenants have contacted the council about issues in their homes. By bringing all this information together, the AI can help councils see which homes are most at risk and need attention.

The data will be shown on a dashboard with a map that highlights risk hotspots. This means council workers can quickly see which areas need help the most. However, Professor Bardhan said that decisions about what to do will still be made by trained council officers, not by the AI. Peter Campbell, who is the head of housing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said that having better data could make his teams more efficient. Right now, they often wait until something breaks before they fix it, which can lead to more damage in people’s homes. With the new AI tool, councils could fix problems earlier, keeping homes in better condition and helping residents stay safe.

The researchers hope that if this project is successful, it will be used by more councils across the country. They believe that using AI to spot problems early could save money and improve the lives of people living in council homes. If you have any stories or suggestions about council homes in Cambridgeshire, the news team would like to hear from you. You can also follow Cambridgeshire news on social media to stay updated on this and other local stories.