Inspecting large wastewater pipes is a difficult task and, despite stringent safety requirements, remains one of the most dangerous tasks Sydney Water undertakes.
Regardless of these difficulties, wastewater inspections are essential to provide the information required to budget and prioritise repairs and maintenance, which prevent leaks, blockages and overflows.
Sydney Water said it has been working with its partner IP Pipes to keep its employees safe, searching for a technology-based solution that mitigates the need to send teams underground.
“We’ve found a way to check the state of the pipes without entering them,” said Sydney Water.
“The answer is – the RACER.”
The RACER – Rapid Assessment Condition Evaluation Robot – is the result of recent developments in photogrammetry and sonar technology; it collects images and sonar data with a special free floating camera, which are then converted into 360 degree vision and 2D view with sonar data.
“It enables us to gather enough information for detailed engineering assessments, without having our employees tramp through the underground network,” said Sydney Water.
“This allows the operator to view the pipes as if they were inside it themselves, without having to get wet or be at risk.”
For more information visit the Sydney Water website.
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