Central Coast Council has successfully completed a world-first remote sewer inspection using a first-of-its-kind remote-controlled vehicle.
Designed and developed by KBR and Emesent to improve the safety, efficiency and accuracy of sewer inspections, the custom-built, remote-controlled vehicle (ROV) is fitted with an Emesent Hovermap ST-X Mobile Laser Scanner (LiDAR) and HD 360 deg CCTV technology.
On its first official mission, it successfully scanned more than 640m of sewer pipe between Terrigal and North Avoca – the longest stretch a vehicle of this type has ever completed.
Director Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said Council engaged KBR to perform a number of sewer and tunnel condition assessments in the region.
“However, given the size, age and unknown condition of the Terrigal tunnel we wanted to see if there was a way to inspect it without sending anyone down as a safety precaution,” he said.
“We’re proud to be the first local government in Australia to deploy this kind of innovative technology for sewer inspections.
“The results have shown us that there is a safer, more efficient and cost-effective way for us to maintain our infrastructure for the benefit of the community.”
Hayden Robinson, National Digital Engineering Technology Manager, KBR, said the successful remote data capture of a pipe this diameter and over this distance marked a pivotal moment in the digitisation of sewer maintenance, as it eliminated the need for unnecessary manual inspections in confined and potentially dangerous spaces.
“Compared to traditional CCTV footage, the combined 3D Point Cloud and high-definition 360 degree CCTV provides us with a digital replica – or digital twin – of the asset, providing more comprehensive and accurate data than has been previously able to obtain,” he said.
“In addition, georeferencing and co-ordinating the data means we can precisely locate any areas along the length of the pipe that need to be repaired.”
The Emesent Hovermap ST-X scanner provides a high-definition Point Cloud model and associated imaging for a virtual assessment of sewer pipe condition, helping to detect cracks, blockages, and structural wear with unprecedented precision.
The data is uploaded to Cintoo’s cloud-based application, transforming the data into high-fidelity 3D meshes used to create a digital replica of the sewer.
This workflow brings the site to the office and allows our team to inspect the internals of the sewer pipe remotely.
This snapshot in time process can be repeated in future to identify and monitor changes over time.
Stefan Hrabar, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder, Emesent, said the company’s scanners were designed for exactly this reason – to provide data capture for challenging and inaccessible environments.
“By attaching our Hovermap scanner to the remote controlled vehicle, we’re able to provide engineers with the data they need to build a 3D digital replica for future maintenance works,” he said.
“Working with KBR on this project has been a fantastic experience.
“The team has a deep understanding of complex infrastructure challenges and a clear vision for how to utilise innovative technologies to deliver better outcomes.”
