The system is an effective way to manage drainage data and ensure efficient management of all assets.
Each year, many organisations spend a significant amount of time, money and resources collecting information on their sewer and stormwater draining assets. Various stakeholders are the driving force behind this data collection effort, all presenting a range of aligned but varying needs.
“A good asset management tool is a critical aspect of ensuring information is conveyed clearly,” says UtilityTrack Manager Heath Keenan.
“Without one, stakeholders risk decreased productivity on site, double ups in works and increased unnecessary spending.”
It is for this reason that the new and cost-efficient UtilityTrack tool was designed and developed.
UtilityTrack
The cloud based, GIS centric tool provides asset owners with an easy solution to collate and organise CCTV inspections along with asset data verification, asset location and connectivity. The tool can hold a large library of condition data, with millions of known conduits and an ever-growing collection of survey condition data.
Additionally, specific details such as structural and service conditions of conduits and maintenance structures can be easily visualised. Mr Keenan says CCTV data may be loaded in real time to UtilityTrack from field crews with access to internet or simply collated from historic archives.
“Survey condition data is linked directly to GIS data, thus UtilityTrack can be used as a searchable library of footage that can be accessed with ease – for example, simply clicking on a pipe can display any survey available for the asset along with a wide range of information about the asset and its end nodes,” says Mr Keenan.
“Data can be analysed to give statistics on the expected condition of an asset in a particular cohort (based on items such as size, depth, age and material). This can be drawn from to assist in planning and prioritising network data that requires improvement, and to fill in the gaps when fair valuation is conducted.”
Data management in real time
As field crews can use the system to quickly and accurately verify and record attribute data, all subsequent changes to attributes, connectivity, location and relevant photos or video footage are available to the asset owner in real time. This provides an unprecedented audit trail and allows field crews to be coordinated, monitored and supervised with extreme ease.
Mr Keenan says this centralisation of drainage data collection allows for extra value to be realised.
“A structural inspection preformed due to a resident complaint can now be added to the valuation model,” he says.
“A planner examining a subdivision request can instantly recall surveys taken during routine inspections. When planning a road re-sheet, an engineer may examine data taken for a previous valuation project.
“Inspection data from a developer handing over a subdivision can be linked and provide a baseline for the asset, along with making checking the asset for warranty claims a simple process.”
Mr Keenan says the UtilityTrack system is also a great way to track degradation and an asset’s history as the current condition can be compared to accounting models and other similar assets.
Sharing and exporting options
Sharing data is easy using the UtilityTrack system as information on a single asset or select group of assets can be readily sent to a colleague, contractor or stakeholder – making the task of getting remediation work quoted or having someone else review an asset very quick and simple.
With many export options available allowing the easy exchange of data to any corporate system, UtilityTrack provides modules that may be easily linked to current systems with no modifications to said system, existing local data or processes.
“If you manage a stormwater or sewer network, it is well worth checking out how UtilityTrack can assist in your day to day workflows and extract the most out of your current and future data,” says Mr Keenan.
This article was featured in the September 2020 edition of Trenchless Australasia. To view the magazine on your PC, Mac, tablet or mobile device, click here.
For more information visit the Total Drain Cleaning website.
If you have news you would like featured in Trenchless Australasia contact Assistant Editor Sophie Venz at svenz@gs-press.com.au