“Acoustic Inspection of Sanitary Sewer Lines to Prioritize Cleaning Operations” (2MB Presentation)
WATERCON 2014 – March 17th – 20th, 2014 – Springfield, IL
“Implementing an Acoustic Pipe Inspection Program” ( 1.9MB Presentation)
Georgia Rural Water Association 34th Annual Fall Technical Conference 2013
“Use of Acoustic Inspection for Prioritizing Renewal and Replacement Projects at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina” (1.2MB Paper)
Collection Systems Conference 2013
Current useful life estimation techniques rely heavily on professional judgment based on available information with the assets physical inspection often limited to visual inspection of the manhole. The Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT) was designed specifically to act as a cost effective tool for prioritizing maintenance operations based on rapidly assessing the degree of blockage within sewer line pipe segments. It has proven an effective tool in prioritizing cleaning operations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the cost effectiveness of using the SL-RAT to enhance asset useful life estimations and the subsequent use of that information to prioritize R&R projects.
“Use of Acoustic Inspection for Prioritizing Renewal and Replacement Projects at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina” (2.5MB Presentation)
Collection Systems Conference 2013
“Rethinking Collection System Maintenance with the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool or SL-RAT” (4.4MB Presentation)
Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo February 2013
Highlights multiple case studies conducted with Utilities which exhibits: approach, performance and cost effectiveness of integrating Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT™) into collection system maintenance programs.
“Application of Acoustic Inspection Tecnology for Two Rivers Utilities’ Collection Systems” (2.6MB Presentation)
NC AWWA-WEA Annual Conference Raleigh, NC November 2012
In this presentation, Two Rivers Utilities and InfoSense Inc. review the SL-RAT (sewer line rapid assessment tool) acoustic inspection technology and its performance . The objective of the project is to develop a best practice approach for integrating the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT™) into the maintenance program to cost effectively enhance cleaning operations. The project will result in the development of best practice information on (1) how to effectively use the SL-RAT, and (2) how to adapt their current program in order to effectively use blockage assessment data for cleaning operations.
“Application of Acoustic Inspection Tecnology for Two Rivers Utilities’ Collection Systems” (1MB Paper)
NC AWWA-WEA Annual Conference Raleigh, NC November 2012
In this paper, Two Rivers Utilities and InfoSense Inc. review the SL-RAT (sewer line rapid assessment tool) acoustic inspection technology and its performance . The objective of the project is to develop a best practice approach for integrating the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT™) into the maintenance program to cost effectively enhance cleaning operations. The project will result in the de-velopment of best practice information on (1) how to effectively use the SL-RAT, and (2) how to adapt their current program in order to effectively use blockage assessment data for cleaning operations.
“Rethinking Collection System Cleaning Using Acoustic Inspection”(1MB Paper)
WEFTEC 2012 Session 114 O&M of Collection Systems
In this paper, Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities and InfoSense Inc. review the SL-RAT (sewer line rapid assessment tool) acoustic inspection technology and its performance . The SL-RAT diagnostic capability allows cleaning requirements for pipe segments to be economically prioritized prior to conducting cleaning operations. We show that significant cost savings can be achieved through: reduced asset condition assessment costs, reduced cleaning-related overflows, and reduced non-value added cleaning effort. In this paper, CMU Case Studies are reviewed and used to show how the SL-RAT acoustic inspection system can be used to establish a Sewer Line Condition Based Maintenance (SL-CBM™) program.
“Rethinking Collection System Cleaning Using Acoustic Inspection” (1.2MB Presentation)
NC AWWA-WEA April 17th, 2012
In this presentation, Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities and InfoSense Inc. review the SL-RAT (sewer line rapid assessment tool) acoustic inspection technology and its performance while discussing its capability to create a condition based maintenance program for wastewater collection system cleaning.
“Acoustic Inspection of Sanitary Sewer Lines” (1.5MB Presentation)
Virginia Rural Water Association 24th Annual Exposition April 4th, 2012
Outline:
What is the Problem?
Sewer Line Inspection Methods
Acoustic Inspection Technology
Field Performance
Acoustic Inspection Applications
Summary
“Active Acoustic Methodology for Detecting Sewer Line Obstructions” (3.1MB Paper)
NC-AWWA-WEA 90th Annual Conference November 15th, 2010
Abstract: A challenge facing the industry is determining where and when to deploy limited cleaning resources for preventative maintenance within a utility’s collection system. Setting up a cleaning program involves the recognition that many pipe segments scheduled for cleaning will only benefit marginally and some not at all from the cleaning action. This cost of over cleaning is significantly overshadowed by the alternative risk of insufficient maintenance resulting in sanitary system overflows. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities (CMU) undertook a pilot project to assess a new diagnostic tool, the Sewer Line – Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RATTM). The SL-RAT is an onsite diagnostic tool under development by InfoSense, Inc. It evaluates the aggregate blockage within a sanitary sewer pipe segment using a novel acoustic methodology. The CMU Pilot Project objectives were to assess both the technical and economic merits of integrating the SL-RAT into their preventative maintenance programs. The SL-RAT diagnostics capability allows cleaning requirements for pipe segments to be prioritized prior to conducting cleaning operations. Potential cost savings exist through several complementary mechanisms: reduced performance assessment costs, reduce cleaning-related overflows, and reduced non-value added cleaning effort. The CMU Pilot Project methodology involved conducting SL-RAT acoustic measurements and CCTV videos both prior to and after the cleaning operations. This enabled rigorous quantitative analysis of the SL-RAT’s operation performance. These results formed the bases for both the technical and economic evaluations. Utilizing the SL-RAT within the cleaning operation revealed 39% to 81% of pipe segments along a problematic sewershed had room for improvement by cleaning. Results suggest the balance of line segments considered (19% to 61%) could be eliminated from the cleaning maintenance cycle without adverse performance impacts, corresponding to a net cost savings from 10% to 50% depending on the goals and approach for the cleaning operation.