With Manholes, It's All About the Data

Posted by Nicole Lygo on Apr 18, 2019

Many wastewater system managers focus on pipelines. But manholes can be an even greater source of problems, in some extreme cases contributing up to 90% of inflow and infiltration in a collection system. And as they’re easier to access, manholes are generally less expensive to fix. However, before they can be repaired they must be thoroughly inspected.

Traditionally, inspecting manholes was a tedious process performed by a worker who climbed down the manhole with a flashlight, a camera and a clipboard. The operator would look at the walls and identify issues visually. However, this type of confined space entry work is dangerous, time-consuming and prone to mistakes and missed information. Now, many cities are turning to manhole inspection solutions like the Quickview 360 AI-supported manhole camera.

Inspect Smarter With Quickview 360

As inspection technology advances, the types and quantity of data gathered from an inspection grow. As with any changing technology, some users may find themselves at a loss when it comes to understanding their manhole data and utilizing it. Manhole inspection data often produces a high-resolution "scan" of the interior of the manhole and a point cloud for 3D applications. Let’s break these pieces down for a better understanding of what they provide.

  • Flattened HD Video "Scan": A still image is pulled from the HD video footage taken during the manhole inspection itself. This flat "scan" depicts a 360-degree view of the asset. It can be reviewed quickly to gain a baseline understanding of the condition of the manhole, or it can be studied intently and coded to quantify its condition.

CleverScan Manhole Wall Scan

  • Point Clouds: Point clouds are sets of data points in space and are gathered by laser scanning devices. They provide a digital, 3D model of the geometry of the manhole. They can be used to detect deformations and design manhole liners.

The process for gathering manhole data is made easier by relevant software such as WinCan sewer inspection software. WinCan enables operators to assess and plan rehabilitation efforts.

Rapid, Easy Manhole Assessment

To do so, the operator must first create an MACP project in WinCan VX software. (This software comes standard with all Cleverscan systems.) 

This software, combined with the Cleverscan manhole inspection camera, provides wastewater operators with a fully compliant report and an MACP data set that can be imported into other MACP-certified software. With the addition of a cloud storage platform like WinCan Web, reports can be securely shared with the click of a button. Access can be given to a single person or team.

Together, WinCan and Quickview 360 provide a simple, streamlined workflow for gathering inspection data, coding it and sharing with relevant stakeholders.

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Topics: All Topics Workflow WinCan Manhole Inspection Quickview 360