Making the Digital Switch

Sewer pipe inspections for the last decade were performed by pulling or driving a closed circuit television camera (CCTV) through the pipe and recording observations using paper logs and VHS tapes. Engineering and technical personnel would review these paper logs then scan through the VHS tape to view only those portions of the pipe that might need repaired. This method of inspection is effective but not efficient. Recent advances in digital encoding and database development have enabled City's to more efficiently process pipe inspection and repairs. This article will describe the process Indianapolis used to evaluate and select a vendor for its digital pipeline inspection software. It will also discuss in detail the advantages and disadvantages of using digital systems for sewer inspection and diagnostics. Finally, it will discuss digital integration of pipeline inspections with the City's Infrastructure Management System (IMS) and its Citizen Relationship Management (CRM) system.