Automated Assessment Technologies for Renewal of Underground Pipeline Infrastructure

Abstract

As our drinking water and waste water infrastructure age, it is important to increase the knowledge about the actual status of the infrastructure. Assessment of pipeline condition is becoming a priority with municipal authorities worldwide. CCTV based assessment is the norm, however accurate assessment is difficult to achieve in practice as subtle defects are hard to discern. CCTV technique is also highly subjective due to its reliance on the skill and concentration of the field operator. In recent years research efforts have concentrated on developing systems that can not only collect accurate relevant data, but also use this data to make intelligent, cost effective decisions regarding the rehabilitation, operation, and maintenance of the network. This paper presents two state-ofthe art technologies for automated assessment and robotic repairs of underground pipelines.