Here's What's New in 4M: March 2026

Written by

Chris Garafola

Published on

April 7, 2026

Product

In March, we made a simple but meaningful improvement to how projects get data in 4M, removing a step and speeding up time to insight.

New Features and Updates

Object Detection Now Runs Automatically

When you create a project in 4M, Object Detection now kicks off automatically in the background. No manual trigger, no extra clicks—just one less thing to think about.

Within a few hours, your project map is enriched with above-ground utility evidence, including:

  • Poles
  • Manholes
  • Valves
  • Hydrants
  • Marking posts and flags
  • Road marks
  • And more

All of this appears directly alongside your utility lines, giving you a more complete picture of what’s happening on the ground, faster.

Why This Matters

This update is all about reducing friction early in the workflow.

Before, users had to remember to run Object Detection after creating a project. Now, that step is handled automatically, so teams can move straight into analysis and validation without delay.

The result:

  • Faster project readiness – evidence begins processing immediately
  • More consistent workflows – no missed steps or manual triggers
  • Earlier visibility – surface key signals sooner in the project lifecycle

What Hasn’t Changed

Everything you rely on is still the same:

  • No changes to how results look
  • No changes to how you interact with detections
  • No changes to data quality or outputs

Just a smoother path to getting there.

See you next month

March’s release reflects a broader focus for 4M: streamlining the path from project creation to actionable utility intelligence, so your team can spend less time managing steps and more time making decisions with confidence.

As always, if you have questions about these updates or want to learn more, reach out to your Customer Success Manager or explore our help center for step-by-step guidance.

Chris Garafola

Brand and Content Lead

With over a decade leading content at high-growth tech startups, Chris now leads brand and content at 4M, where he is committed to helping the industry build better together through AI and innovation.

Recent blog posts

View all Blogs

Here's What's New in 4M: September 2026

4M's Foundation Data is now live in Kansas and Kentucky.

Nicole Heger

October 2, 2026

Product

Trust But Verify: A Veteran Engineer’s Take on AI in Infrastructure

How to adopt AI in infrastructure without handing over your judgment with Terry Young, Arcadis

Chris Garafola

September 21, 2026

Customer Story

AI in Construction: Solving Problems Before They Become Problems with Rod Fiske

AI utility intelligence and proactive problem solving with Rod Fiske, BOND.

Chris Garafola

September 2, 2026

Customer Story

Here's What's New in 4M: August 2026

A new way for project teams to work together directly on the map, plus two more states live on 4M's path to nationwide coverage

August 28, 2026

Product

A Utility Strike Is Not an Accident

4M’s 8/11 Day position on how to better protect America’s underground infrastructure

Itzik Malka

August 11, 2026

Company News

Our Newsletter

Join 7k infrastructure professionals

Get monthly insights on ways to build
smarter, faster and safer with Utility AI.