Russian Metallurgists Build a Unified Building Monitoring System
A new real-time digital monitoring system is transforming how industrial buildings are inspected and maintained across one of Russia’s major metallurgical plants
At VIZ-Steel, a major metallurgical enterprise in Yekaterinburg, engineers have deployed a fully integrated digital platform that continuously monitors the condition of industrial buildings and infrastructure. Instead of relying on periodic inspections, the new system maintains round‑the‑clock oversight of structures covering more than 7 million cubic meters, marking a shift toward predictive and automated industrial safety.
Specialists follow 307 predefined digital inspection routes, documenting checkpoints with photos and video. All materials instantly sync to the central system, where they are analyzed using automated diagnostics. For hard‑to‑reach zones—such as structural elements located up to 32 meters high—the plant uses elevated video systems, eliminating the need for dangerous manual inspections.
Automation That Predicts Problems Before They Spread
The platform evaluates every detected defect, categorizing risks and generating repair tasks automatically. It also produces both urgent and long‑term maintenance plans, helping optimize budgets and allocate resources. A growing photo and video archive provides a detailed life history of each structure, allowing the system to flag early signs of degradation long before they become emergencies.
Digital Oversight Becomes Russia’s New Industrial Standard
The metallurgy sector is not alone. Russia is rapidly expanding intelligent infrastructure systems across industrial and urban landscapes. In Moscow, construction sites already use environmental sensors to track noise, dust, and air quality in real time—strengthening transparency and safety for both workers and residents.
Together, these initiatives reflect a broader strategy: applying advanced digital technologies not only to build new structures but also to manage them responsibly throughout their lifespan. For Russia’s industrial sector, this integrated approach marks a step toward greater global competitiveness and a model for tech‑driven, sustainable infrastructure management.
