NBC 10 Boston recently highlighted the success of the Highway Engineer Knowledge Agent (HEKA), an AI chatbot created by Northeastern University AI for Impact co-op students that is aiding in the design of quicker and safer infrastructure projects in Massachusetts.
The piece features recent Northeastern graduate Sai Panindra Santosh Kuma, who helped build the product, and Jonathan Gulliver, Highway Administrator at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
Launched in November 2024, the HEKA chatbot empowers design engineers in the MassDOT Highway Division to efficiently query department manuals and documentation. MassDOT engineers regularly use the tool to surface up information on projects throughout the state. In early testing they’ve observed a 78% time savings compared to manual search.
In the Burnes Center for Social Change's AI for Impact Program, students work full-time building experiential AI products for social good alongside government agencies and community partners. By improving the delivery of services and programs, these products are positively impacting the quality of life for millions of people.
