Norwegian startup Birdsview has raised €3.7 million to expand its technology for concrete inspection. The Bergen-based company wants to make it easier for engineers and asset owners to see what lies inside concrete without drilling, breaking or damaging the structure.
The funding news came on August 17, 2026. The new capital will help Birdsview expand its commercial work, industrial use and reach in international markets. The company says its technology can help protect important structures and extend their useful life.
The idea may sound simple, but it addresses a large problem. Roads, bridges, tunnels, buildings, dams, ports and power facilities all depend on concrete. Many of these structures are old. Owners need to know what lies inside them before they repair, cut or change them.
Birdsview aims to give them that information in a faster and less harmful way.
A scanner that can see inside concrete
Concrete can look strong from the outside while hiding problems below the surface. Steel bars sit inside it to give the structure strength. Over time, those bars can face rust, damage or other issues.
Traditional checks can require drilling or other forms of physical inspection. Such work can take time and may cause damage to the structure. It can also create noise, dust and delays for people who use the building or facility.
Birdsview takes a different path. Its system uses Ground-Penetrating Radar, LiDAR and a high-resolution camera to collect data from a concrete surface. The system then creates a detailed 3D point cloud of the area.
The company uses AI-based software to study the radar data. It can identify details such as the location, diameter and cover depth of steel reinforcement inside concrete.
Birdsview describes its approach as a form of “X-ray Vision for Concrete.” Its technology can provide reinforcement data without the need for drilling or a shutdown.
Why old infrastructure needs better checks
Across many countries, infrastructure is getting older. Bridges, tunnels and public buildings need regular care if they are to remain safe.
One major problem is a lack of clear information. Old construction drawings may be missing. Records may be incomplete. A structure may also have gone through repairs or changes that are not easy to track.
This creates uncertainty for engineers.
Before a team cuts into a concrete floor, wall or bridge, it needs to know where the steel bars are. If that information is not clear, workers may have to spend more time on checks before work can start.
Birdsview says its technology can reduce this uncertainty. Its system can provide structural information before a project starts, which can help engineers make better choices.
Results in minutes
Speed is one of Birdsview’s main claims.
The company says its platform can process data and provide reinforcement insights in less than one minute in the field. Its system can also create a point cloud that users can view and share.
This is important because traditional inspection work can take much longer. Engineers may need to collect data, send it for further analysis and wait before they have a clear picture.
A faster system can help a project move ahead sooner.
Birdsview says its technology can reduce field inspection and post-processing work from weeks to hours. It also says some projects have saved several weeks in their overall schedule.
Less damage to buildings
Another major benefit is the non-destructive nature of the system.
When a team uses drilling or other physical methods to inspect concrete, it may leave holes or cause other damage. That can be a problem in buildings that are still in use.
Birdsview’s scanner does not require the same type of physical damage. The company says its method can help teams avoid destructive work while they collect information about the structure.
This can be useful in places such as offices, airports, public buildings and other busy sites.
For example, the company has shared a case from GC Rieber, where a destructive check could have caused noise, dust, damage to the floor and disruption for tenants. Birdsview says its technology helped reduce the need for such work.
The role of AI
AI is an important part of Birdsview’s system.
The scanner collects a large amount of information. That data can be difficult for a person to study by hand. Birdsview’s software uses AI-backed methods to identify reinforcement details and present the results in a simpler form.
The platform can detect rebar location, cover and diameter. The company states that its system can provide 1–3 mm precision for both diameter and cover measurements.
The results are also shown through 3D visuals. This gives engineers a clearer view of what sits inside the concrete.
The data can also be exported to BIM, or Building Information Modeling, systems. This can help teams add the inspection results to wider project models.
Where the technology can help
Birdsview’s system has uses across several parts of the built environment.
Bridges are one example. Engineers may need to understand the position of reinforcement before repair work or structural changes.
Tunnels can also benefit because access can be difficult and work may affect traffic or other operations.
The technology can also help with parking structures, dams, reservoirs, commercial buildings, public buildings, industrial sites and data centers. Birdsview also lists marine facilities such as docks, piers, shipyards and quay walls among its use cases. Energy sites such as hydropower plants and power stations are another target.
This wide range gives the company several possible markets as it expands.
A tool for safer construction work
Safety is another important part of the company’s pitch.
Before workers cut or drill into concrete, they need to know what sits below the surface. Steel bars, conduits and other objects can create risks if a team does not know their exact position.
Birdsview says its technology can help locate these objects before cutting or coring. This can lower the chance of costly mistakes and improve worker safety.
The benefit is not only about avoiding accidents. A mistake can also delay a project and create extra repair costs.
Better information before work starts can therefore save both time and money.
Real project results
Birdsview says its technology has already shown value in real projects.
At COWI, the company says its work at Kjevik Airport helped save 2–3 weeks and $40,000–$50,000 in project costs.
For GC Rieber, Birdsview reports a saving of 3–6 weeks and $25,000–$50,000.
A bridge project with Trøndelag Fylkeskommune also showed a reported saving of 3–6 weeks and $25,000–$50,000.
At an energy grid company, the firm reports a saving of 12 weeks.
These figures come from Birdsview’s own case studies, so they should be viewed as company-reported results rather than independent studies.
A bigger push into global markets
The new €3.7 million gives Birdsview more resources to take its technology beyond its existing customer base.
The company says it wants to scale its commercial and industrial work as well as its international reach.
That could be an important next step because the problem it targets exists in many countries.
Older bridges, buildings and other concrete assets need regular checks almost everywhere. Many owners also want to repair and reuse existing structures instead of replacing them with new ones.
That creates a potential market for tools that can provide better information about old concrete.
Supporting reuse and sustainability
Birdsview also connects its technology with sustainability.
When engineers have better information about an existing structure, they may be able to repair or reuse more of it rather than replace large sections. This can reduce the need for new concrete and other materials.
The company says its technology can support a circular economy by helping teams identify which parts of a structure can remain in use.
This matters because the construction sector uses large amounts of raw material. Extending the life of existing structures can reduce waste and lower the need for new construction.
For Birdsview, the technology is therefore not only about faster inspection. It is also about better decisions for the future of buildings and infrastructure.
What the new funding means
The €3.7 million raise gives Birdsview a stronger base as it seeks to grow its business.
The company has developed a product that combines sensors, AI, 3D data and a digital platform. Its goal is to make concrete assessment faster, safer and less destructive.
Its current product can provide reinforcement insights within minutes, with the company citing 40+ clients on its website.
The next test will be whether Birdsview can take that technology to more customers and more countries.
A simple idea with a large market
Birdsview is focused on a problem that many people rarely think about: what sits inside the concrete around us.
A bridge may look fine from the outside. A building floor may appear normal. A tunnel wall may show no obvious signs of trouble. Yet engineers still need accurate data before they make major changes or repairs.
Birdsview wants to provide that information without the need to break the structure apart.
With €3.7 million in new capital, the Bergen startup now has more room to expand its commercial work, industrial use and international reach.
Its technology combines Ground-Penetrating Radar, LiDAR, cameras, AI and 3D data to create a clearer view of concrete structures. The company says results can arrive in less than a minute, while its case studies show major savings in both time and cost.
The larger goal is clear: help owners understand old structures before they repair, cut, change or replace them. If Birdsview can scale this approach across more markets, its “MRI for concrete” idea could become a useful part of the future of infrastructure inspection.
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