
Our Founder’s Story

In 2007, a partnership was formed between a utility, Charlotte Water, and academia to help solve a problem familiar to those working in collections system maintenance –
How can utilities understand where blockages are in their extensive underground network of sewer pipes, without wasting time and resources?
In the average utility, only 10-35% of pipes require near-term maintenance. However, using traditional time-based methods, it’s hard for operators to understand where those problem areas are, without spending significant money and resources.
Dr. Ivan Howitt, then a professor at UNC-Charlotte, wanted to explore whether acoustic technology could be a potential solution to this problem. With the help of funding from the National Science Foundation, he developed a portable tool using sound waves to rapidly assess sewer lines for blockages.
This new acoustic inspection technology, called the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool, or SL-RAT®, won WEF’s Innovative Technology Award in 2012. Since then, the SL-RAT has gained traction and is being used by hundreds of utilities worldwide to prioritize much more expensive cleaning assets and has inspected over 200 million feet of pipe.
Our Approach

InfoSense wins National Science Foundation's small business innovation and research funding. Dr. Ivan Howitt develops the first generation of the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool, or SL-RAT, based on feedback from Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities


A second generation of the SL-RAT is developed with an improved user interface and power management, as well as ruggedized for field use. 1 million feet of pipe inspected.


Based on customer feedback, a third generation of the SL-RAT is developed that is lighter, GPS-enabled, and further ruggedized. InfoSense wins the WEF Innovative Technology Award, NC IDEA grant, and the Charlotte Chamber Power Up grant with this patented technology.


The US Environmental Protection Agency and Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati collaborate to publish a study on the SL-RAT concluding, “The results of this demonstration of the SL‐RAT show promise for the application of this technology as a tool for cost‐effective, pre‐cleaning assessment and post‐cleaning quality assurance. "


The SL-RAT is integrated by over 120 utilities around the world to enable condition-based maintenance. InfoSense is named the #1 Fastest Growing Private Company in Charlotte.


Standard Practice for Prioritizing Sewer Cleaning Operations by Using Transmissive Acoustic Inspection is published based on the SL-RAT.


The SL-DOG Mobile app is released to help streamline the input of asset IDs and field notes. Over 100 million ft of pipe inspected by over 250 unique customers, saving users millions of dollars.

InfoSense Leadership
InfoSense Team

Chris Callahan
Central East Market Manager
Gene Hallum
Northwest Territory Manager
Gwen Mayol
Customer Support
Heather McNeil
Customer Success Manager
Marlon Montgomery
Production & Repair Specialist
Dipan Patel
Production Engineer
Charlie Rotman
Midwest Market Manager
Christina Rupe
Inside Sales Manager