Revolutionizing sewer inspection with drone technology and AI-powered analysis, Macomb County has streamlined their wastewater infrastructure management, saving time and money while ensuring the reliability of their underground assets.
The Rise of Poop Drones: Keeping Sewers Running Safely and Efficiently
A Game-Changer for Underground Infrastructure Inspection
Regular inspections of sewer lines are crucial to preventing disasters like the 2016 sinkhole in Fraser, Michigan. However, traditional methods can be slow, costly, and hazardous due to the dark, cramped, and gas-filled environment. This is where drones come in – designed and engineered to operate in confined spaces, they offer a safer and more efficient way to inspect sewer lines.
Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are aircraft that operate without a human pilot on board.
They use GPS and sensors to navigate and collect data.
Originally developed for military purposes, drones have become increasingly popular in various industries such as filmmaking, agriculture, and surveying.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), over 1 million drones were registered in the United States alone between 2016 and 2020.
The Benefits of Drone-Based Inspections
Drones like the Elios 3 can navigate through dark and dusty pipes while creating a live 3D model of the environment. Equipped with specialized payloads such as explosive gas sensors or ultrasonic thickness gauges, they provide detailed insights into the condition of the sewer lines.
With drone-based inspections, teams of at least four people are no longer needed to inspect a stretch of sewer underneath a road, eliminating confined space risks and exposure to hazardous environments. This leads to significant cost savings – an average 40% reduction compared to traditional methods. Additionally, drones can inspect up to 900 meters in a day, whereas traditional methods can only cover 400 meters.
A New Era for Sewer Inspection
Macomb County’s adoption of drone-based inspections has been a game-changer for their wastewater infrastructure. By combining remotely piloted Asio X drones with software package SewerAI, they have streamlined their inspection process and saved huge amounts of time and money. The total cost of both was around $100,000, compared to the previous $1 million spent on inspections every three years.
Macomb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan.
As of the 2020 census, its population was approximately 874,000 people.
The county seat is Mount Clemens.
Macomb County is situated about 30 miles north of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit region.
It covers an area of 571 square miles and has a diverse economy with major industries in manufacturing, healthcare, and education.
Sewerai refers to a part of the sewerage system that carries wastewater away from residential or commercial areas.
It typically consists of a network of pipes, tunnels, and chambers designed to manage and transport sewage efficiently.
In urban areas, sewerai is often combined with stormwater drainage systems to prevent flooding and maintain public health.
The design and construction of sewerai systems involve careful planning and implementation to ensure they function effectively and safely.
The Asio X drone can capture ‘crystal-clear video’ of the sewer system while navigating all but the narrowest of pipes. However, it requires mostly manual control, especially in challenging locations such as dark, air-flow-changing environments and restricted pipes with flowing water. The operator must carefully manage flight paths to ensure accurate data collection.
AI-Assisted Analysis
SewerAI takes the drone-captured data to the next level by analyzing it using AI-assisted algorithms. This enables the identification of defects automatically, saving contractors months of time and effort. The software package can detect problems that need addressing from drone footage and has an agreement to send data analysis back to the county within 10 days – usually within 24 hours.
The team’s experience with SewerAI has been impressive, with every single test against coded video in the field resulting in SewerAI excelling in defect detection. Even in areas where drones cannot go, traditional methods are required, and the resulting data is now sent off for analysis rather than being coded in the field. This allows for quick review and re-analysis of old data, picking up defects that may have been missed initially.
A Pioneer in Modernization
Macomb County has been a pioneer in adopting this technology-led approach to streamline their inspection process. Their efforts have earned them two in-state awards, recognizing their forward-thinking approach. Vince Astorino and his team remain committed to modernizing operations, always on the lookout for new ways to improve efficiency and safety.
The integration of drone-based inspections with AI software has revolutionized the way sewer lines are inspected and maintained. By leveraging this technology, organizations can save time, money, and resources while ensuring the reliability and integrity of their underground infrastructure.
