What Is WENDY? The AI Platform for Trenchless Construction, Explained
- Stern Technic
- Jun 24
- 4 min read
WENDY is a cloud-based software platform (SaaS) by Stern Technic GmbH for trenchless (No-Dig) civil engineering. It supports engineers in planning, calculating, controlling and documenting trenchless construction methods such as HDD drilling, slurry boring and microtunneling – with artificial intelligence, a digital site logbook and IoT connectivity to the drilling equipment. This article explains what WENDY is, what the platform can do and who it is built for.
What is WENDY?
WENDY bundles the entire workflow of a trenchless construction project into a single application. Instead of spreading route planning, cost calculation, scheduling and site documentation across different tools and spreadsheets, everyone works in one central platform. An AI assistant – called “Wendy” internally – actively supports the work: it suggests routes, detects conflicts with existing infrastructure, calculates costs and helps document directly from the construction site.
WENDY’s guiding principle is “as much as necessary, as little as possible.” Every project starts lean, and modules are activated only when they are needed (progressive disclosure). This keeps the interface clear – from a small house connection to a complex long-distance pipeline.
What does “trenchless civil engineering” mean?
Trenchless construction methods (No-Dig or trenchless technology) make it possible to lay, renew or rehabilitate pipes and conduits without digging a continuous open trench. Instead of tearing up the entire route, the ground is bored or pressed through in a targeted way. This saves time and money, reduces the impact on traffic and nature, and significantly lowers CO₂ emissions compared with open-cut construction.
Which construction methods does WENDY support?
HDD drilling (Horizontal Directional Drilling) – steerable bores for longer routes, for example under rivers, roads or railway lines.
Slurry boring (fluid-assisted drilling) – a drilling method that uses drilling fluid to remove cuttings and stabilize the borehole.
Microtunneling – remote-controlled pipe jacking for larger diameters and the highest laying accuracy.
What features does WENDY offer?
WENDY has a modular design. Its most important building blocks include:
AI-assisted route planning – automatic route suggestions based on map data, including conflict detection with existing infrastructure.
Route & schedule planning – keep the sequence, deadlines and dependencies of a project in view at all times.
Cost calculation & material planning – reliable quotes and material lists; pipe and material types are reusable company-wide.
Documentation & digital site logbook – legally compliant site documentation with photos and voice notes.
CO₂ footprint – calculating and reporting emissions per project – an increasingly important topic in public tenders.
WENDY-Control – live telemetry of the drilling equipment (“BOB” and “BUDDEL”) over a secure IoT connection, including 3D visualization of the drilling data.
AI assistant – a chat assistant that answers questions, analyzes documents and automates recurring tasks.
WENDY on the go: documentation straight from the site
For use in the field there is a native iOS app as a mobile companion. Through a simple chat interface, teams capture photos, voice notes and GPS locations – the AI assistant automatically assigns the entries to the right project. The suggestions are then reviewed and approved on the desktop. This creates seamless documentation without awkward typing on site. Planning, calculation and final documentation stay on the desktop.
How does the artificial intelligence in WENDY work?
Behind WENDY is a system of specialized AI agents. Each agent handles a specific task – such as route suggestions, document analysis or the evaluation of telemetry data. All AI requests run exclusively through secured servers; API keys and sensitive data never leave the protected backend. The AI functions run on servers in the EU (Frankfurt region), supporting the requirements of the GDPR.
Who is WENDY made for?
Drilling contractors in trenchless construction (HDD, slurry boring, microtunneling)
Civil engineering & utility companies for electricity, gas, water, fiber optics and district heating
Planning & engineering offices that plan and calculate routes
Site managers & foremen who document and monitor projects
What does WENDY cost?
WENDY is a pure subscription model (SaaS) with no free version. There are three plans to choose from:
Basic – €49 / month
Premium – €79 / month
Ultimate – €199 / month
Annual and three-year plans are available at a discount. All prices are net (B2B, plus VAT). Billing is handled via Stripe.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is trenchless civil engineering?
Trenchless civil engineering (No-Dig) refers to construction methods in which pipes and conduits are laid or rehabilitated without a continuous open trench. The ground is bored or pressed through – saving costs, protecting the environment and reducing traffic disruption.
Which drilling methods does WENDY cover?
WENDY supports HDD drilling (Horizontal Directional Drilling), slurry boring and microtunneling.
Is there an app for the construction site?
Yes. A native iOS app serves as a mobile companion for capturing photos, voice notes and GPS locations. Planning and calculation are done on the desktop.
Is WENDY GDPR-compliant?
WENDY processes AI requests server-side and uses an EU data center (Frankfurt region). API keys and sensitive data remain in the protected backend.
Is there a free trial?
No. WENDY is a pure subscription model. You get started directly with one of the three plans (Basic, Premium or Ultimate).
Conclusion
WENDY makes trenchless construction projects more predictable, faster and more transparent: AI-assisted route planning, reliable cost calculation, seamless documentation and live data from the drilling equipment – all in one platform. Developed by Stern Technic GmbH for professionals in modern civil engineering.
Learn more about WENDY and Stern Technic’s trenchless solutions at wendy-trenchless.com.
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