Co-UDlabs_TA_IKT-02-LTF Testing the performance of innovative inspection techniques for rising mains (sewage pressure pipes)

Sewage pressure pipes are undoubtedly particularly critical structures in the sewerage system. In the event of a failure, exfiltration, flooding and the associated risks for people and the environment are to be expected. In order to minimize the risk of damage or operational failure of these pipes, regular condition assessments are required. However, the inspection of wastewater pressure pipes poses a problem for many operators. A conventional CCTV condition assessment or leak test as with gravity pipelines is usually not possible due to certain boundary conditions (e.g., lack of access openings, bends, full or partial filling of the pipelines and gradient). New, innovative inspection techniques are required that provide meaningful results on the condition of the sewage pressure pipe. In recent years, some promising inspection techniques have been (further) developed. Within the framework of this Transnationa Access project, selected innovative inspection techniques have been examined in a test set-up for their performance and application limits. A test setup was constructed in the large-scale test facility of IKT - Institute for Underground Infrastructure, consisting of a system of wastewater pumps and pressure pipes, with typical damage patterns to be detected by the inspection techniques. Different pipe materials were installed in sections of the test setup to determine their influence on the different inspection techniques. This is data in form of the inspection results, if defects could be detected by different kind of inspection techniques. Essentially, data is kept on the actual type, position, dimension and size of the defect and anomalies – applied in the experimental setup – and result data from the inspections provided by the participants, namely the presum type, position, dimension and size of these defects. The raw data from the inspection (e.g. data from ultrasonic sensors, acoustic sensors) was analyzed by the inspectors to describe type, position, dimension and size of the defect and anomalies. However, this raw data is not part of this data as it is managed by the respective providers of the inspection techniques. This raw data was not made available. Beyond that this database presents requested data on the area of application of the inspection systems, based on manufacturer´s information. This transnational project is part of the EU funded project Co-UDLABS - Collaborative Urban Drainage research lab communities and was initiated by the Dutch umbrella organization of wastewater companies Stichting RIONED. The authors acknowledge financial support from the European Union under the Horizon 2020 program within a contract for Integrating Activities for Starting Communities (Ref. 101008626)