SASKATCHEWAN — A three-year research project led by Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Digital Integration Centre of Excellence (DICE) has developed an artificial intelligence-based tool to help identify high-probability locations of gravel deposits across the province — a breakthrough that could save millions in infrastructure costs.
In partnership with geological experts at Peter Lucas Project Management Inc., the applied research project used machine learning and neural network algorithms to analyze 2.5 terabytes of data including satellite imagery, vegetation data, water tables, lithology and other open-source datasets. The result is a predictive mapping tool that identifies high-probability locations of gravel deposits across Saskatchewan.
Gravel is a non-renewable resource essential to construction and road maintenance. Saskatchewan, which has the largest municipal road network in Canada — more than 165,000 kilometres of grid roads and over 190,000 kilometres of rural roads — relies heavily on gravel to maintain its vast infrastructure.
“Gravel is everywhere, but the cost of hauling it often outweighs the processing costs,” says Connor Regier, CFO of Peter Lucas Project Management. “If you can find a pit closer to your project site, you can lower your transportation costs, minimize the project’s carbon footprint and save millions.”
The tool could help give Peter Lucas Project Management a competitive edge in bidding on large construction projects, allowing for faster, more informed decisions. It can also help their clients save money on construction costs and travel and lower their environmental impact.
Traditionally, gravel exploration involved manual surveys, aerial photo analysis and electromagnetic testing, a time-consuming and labour-intensive process. The new system replaces much of that work, reducing exploration time from weeks to days. The AI tool overlays multiple models on satellite maps, highlighting areas of overlap to indicate higher probability zones. Known gravel pits are used to bolster accuracy. The system allows users to scan areas as large as 100-by-100 kilometres, narrowing down to 12.5-by-12.5 kilometre grids for more detailed exploration.
“It’s been a mutually beneficial relationship,” says Regier. “DICE brings the machine learning and AI expertise, and we bring the gravel expertise. Together we have created a great solution.”
Small exploratory grant kick-starts collaboration
The collaboration began with a small exploratory grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The latest phase of the project received $300,000 in NSERC funding, supporting both the initial research and the development of the final product.
“This is a powerful tool for Peter Lucas,” says Dr. Terry Peckham, director and research chair for DICE. “It’s not just about finding gravel — it’s about transforming how we manage a critical resource in a province that depends on it.”
Two Sask Polytech alumni played key roles in the project. Deshan Heenatigala, a Computer Systems Technology graduate, worked as a research technologist with DICE. Tai Nguyen, a graduate of the Cloud Computing and Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics post-graduate certificates, contributed as a student assistant.
“This project allowed me to combine geospatial data with computer and data science, applying them to a real-world issue in a meaningful way, says Heenatigala. “I learned how to build and optimize end-to-end pipelines involving data engineering and machine learning models while efficiently managing large geospatial datasets. Overall, the experience strengthened my confidence in addressing large-scale complex challenges and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary problem-solving.”
The final product was recently demonstrated to Peter Lucas Project Management, showcasing how the tool can reduce exploration time from weeks to hours and support sustainable resource management across Saskatchewan.
DICE provides innovative solutions for solving data and digital challenges for business, industry and non-profits. By partnering with DICE, organizations have access to outstanding computational facilities, faculty expertise, and talented student researchers, along with research and development funding and a vast network of connections. The DICE team of researchers and technologists are all experienced in providing digital solutions focused on data across a spectrum of industries.
Learn more about collaborating with DICE at saskpolytech.ca/dice.
