Europe's sewer infrastructure, established over a century ago to combat public health crises, now faces an existential challenge. With an annual renewal rate of just 0.5%, municipalities confront a €40 billion rehabilitation gap each year. Aging pipes lead to combined sewer overflows, environmental contamination, and increased public health risks. Meanwhile, the workforce is aging, labor shortages loom, and traditional inspection methods expose workers to hazardous conditions in confined spaces.

AI:Liner addresses these challenges by developing a suite of innovative digital solutions—from autonomous inspection drones and AI-powered defect detection to predictive maintenance models and strategic investment planning tools. Yet technological innovation alone is insufficient. As AI transforms water management practices, fundamental questions emerge: How will automation affect workers? What happens to job security? How do we ensure AI systems are transparent, fair, and accountable in critical infrastructure? How can utilities navigate the complex regulatory landscape of the AI Act, GDPR, and occupational safety requirements?

Research objectives

eLaw – Center for Law and Digital Technologies leads the social science and trustworthy AI work package (WP4), addressing the ethical, legal, and societal dimensions of AI adoption in water management. Our research objectives include:

O4: Address the potential negative social impacts of digitalization

• Better understand workforce perceptions of automation and digitalization
• Enhance AI skills of utility workers from field staff to management boards
• Contribute to multi-stakeholder standardization efforts with policy and standard-makers
• Demonstrate how digital innovation improves health and safety in the construction sector

O5: Foster trustworthy AI for sewer asset management

• Integrate ethical AI principles at the core of technological development
• Guide utilities in elaborating data governance plans and achieving full compliance with the AI Act
• Address cybersecurity concerns to promote a secure AI ecosystem

Pilot deployments in Berlin (Berliner Wasserbetriebe) and Madrid (Canal de Isabel II) ensure solutions are tested in real operational conditions with diverse infrastructure contexts.

The project is coordinated by Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin, who will be accompanied by a consortium coming from around Europe, including Leiden University, but also the University of Sheffield, Twente University, TU Eindhoven, INSA Lyon, Berliner Wasserbetriebe (BWB), Canal de Isabel II (CI2), LOBA, The European Water Tech Accelerator, Planetek and Hovering.

AI:Liner demonstrates how law and technology research can ensure that digital transformation in critical public services empowers workers, protects fundamental rights, and builds societal trust.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. [101177951]).

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