Ukrainian AI has learned to detect useful materials among the debris of destroyed buildings

The presentation of the innovative technology will take place at the Biennale Architettura 2025 in Venice, where the team will look for opportunities to scale it throughout Ukraine.

A unique technology has been created in Ukraine: an artificial intelligence algorithm that analyzes photos of destruction and identifies building materials that can be reused for reconstruction. The first pilot project was implemented in Bucha, laying the foundation for an open database of resources needed for post-war reconstruction.

The project was initiated by the public organization ReThink in collaboration with researchers Katya Lopatyuk and Herman Mytish. They trained a neural network to recognize 21 types of materials with an accuracy of up to 86%, using more than 30 AI models and thousands of manually marked images. The algorithm most often found slate (36%), metal tiles (17%) and concrete (12%). The created platform will help communities, builders and international organizations plan restoration as efficiently as possible, relying on existing resources.

The development is based on aerial photography of Bucha buildings, damage assessment data from the Damaged in UA initiative and open sources. This approach promotes the development of a circular economy, reduces construction costs and helps minimize environmental impacts.

The world premiere of the technology “Circularity on the Edge” will take place at the Biennale Architettura in Venice (May–November 2025), where the team will seek partners to scale the project to other Ukrainian cities.

The ReThink initiative shows how modern technologies can help not only the physical reconstruction of the country, but also become an act of moral reconstruction. Using debris as a new resource is a step towards a responsible attitude, preservation of memory and sustainable development that honors history and at the same time makes reconstruction more accessible.