TRB Webinar: Encouraging Innovation in Locating ...onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/webinars/EncouragingInnovationin...Encouraging Innovation in Locating and ... frequent barriers in

TRB Webinar: Encouraging Innovation in Locating & Characterizing Underground Utilities

Today’s Presenter and Moderator

Raymond Sterling, Louisiana Tech University, [email protected]

Monica Starnes, Transportation Research Board, [email protected]

Download the Reporthttp://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/shrp2/shrp2_S2-R01-RW.pdf

R. Sterling, J. Anspach, E. Allouche, J. Simicevic, C. Rogers

Findings from a Research Project carried out for the TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD NAS-NRC

By the Trenchless Technology CenterLouisiana Tech University

Contract # SHRP-R-01

1. The project2. Urban utility issues3. Utility locating and characterization for

transportation projects4. Utility locating technology developments5. Utility characterization technology

developments6. Ongoing and future research7. Preliminary tour of website

Encouraging Innovation in Locating and characterizing Underground Utilities

Web-based tool: quick technology reference

Products Report documenting◦ frequent barriers in locating and characterizing underground

utilities.◦ currently available techniques and practices◦ technologies potentially useful

R&D Plan

Focus on Identifying technologies to better locate and identify underground utilities and developing a research plan that will encourage their development

Monica A. Starnes, PhD (SHRP 2 Project Manager) Raymond L. Sterling, PhD, P.E. (Principal

Investigator), TTC E. Allouche, PhD, P.Eng., TTC James H. Anspach, P.G., So-Deep, Inc. K. Weston, P.E., Transportation Design

Consultant) Chris Rogers, PhD, C.Eng., University of

Birmingham, U.K. Kate Hayes, Nat. Agric. Lib. (retired) Jadranka Simicevic, Research Engineer, TTC John Matthews, Ph.D. candidate, TTC Joseph Berchmans, Consultant Programmer

More than 11 million miles in U.S.Existing investment in the trillions of dollarsHaphazard, poorly documented, neglected

Wall Street NY 1918

France

Horizontal directional drilling◦ Remarkable advances in

installation technology◦ Utility location issues Plastic pipe Curved alignment Depth easily increased◦ Utility damage issues Cross-bores

Courtesy: Ditchwitch

Differences between damage prevention and effective management of utility information for transportation projects

Utility coordination issues dealt with in a separate SHRP 2 project

Subsurface Utility Engineering approaches important issues in both studies

Geophysical technology used to detect and image underground utilities

Processes, procedures, and techniques used by the field technicians in collecting the geophysical data in the field

Means and methods of transferring data from the instrumentation to the data users

Other sources of information regarding utility location, such as visual observation and/or existing records

Integration and validation of data sources

Formatting and display of data to the data users

Retention of and record-keeping practices for the data

Use of the recorded data for the next “locating” exercise at this location

STANDARD GUIDELINE FOR THE COLLECTION AND DEPICTION OF

EXISTING SUBSURFACE UTILITY DATA

C-I /ASCE 38-02

Chairman ASCE C/I 38-02 – J.H. Anspach

[email protected] 541-678-2151

Plotted on plans from records. Sometimes a field visit - to look for utility

indications on the site - is made. Sometimes “verbal recollections” are plotted.

The least reliable data

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Water Record says 4” pipe is two feet off of curb

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Surface Appurtenances are surveyed and accurately plotted on a current site plan

Utility data from records (QL D) are correlated to the appurtenances

“Quality Level C”The “traditional” utility depiction

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Water Record says 4” pipe is two feet off of curb

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Water Record says pipe is two feet off of curb, but

Valves are 6 feet off curb

Surveyed & Plotted Water Valves

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Water Record says pipe is two feet off of curb.

Engineer makes judgment that water line depiction should be moved

Surveyed & Plotted Water Valves

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Water Record says pipe is two feet off of curb.

Engineer makes judgment that water line depiction should be moved

Surveyed & Plotted Water Valves

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Water Record says pipe is two feet off of curb.

Engineer makes judgment that water line depiction should be re-configured.

Surveyed & Plotted Water Valves

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

OR

Surface Geophysical Methods used to search for and trace existing utilities.

Designated utilities are then surveyed and plotted on site plan.

“Quality Level B”A significant upgrade in quality

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Water Record says 4” pipe is two feet off of curb

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Curb / EOP

Water Record says pipe is two feet off of curb.

Designating indicates otherwise.

Surveyed & Plotted Water Valves

QL D and QL C interpretationsBy engineer were in error

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Utilities exposed via non-destructive air-vacuum means

Exposed utilities are then surveyed and plotted on site plan Elevations, Size, Condition, Materials, Precise Horizontal Positions are measured and documented

“Quality Level A”A Guarantee in 3-D

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Ground surface

Water line found at CL Station 23+40, L10to be 6 3/4” in diameter and 5.56’ deep, slightly corroded and cast iron rather than ductile

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

The end result is a map suitable for current needs, and retrievable for future needs, with the reliability of the utilities clearly indicated

Courtesy, J. Anspach and So-Deep

Technological◦ Surface geophysical equipment◦ Data processing◦ Survey / data retention

Social◦ Training

Political◦ Policies, statutes◦ Ratepayer v. taxpayer

Most studied object in history

Consists of widely different materials

Research into imaging in the billions of dollars for CAT, Ultrasound, MRI, etc.

Highly controlled imaging environment

Great records

No one method works for everything

Exploratory surgery still common

Highly trained interpreters of data

Single multi-sensor system Locates all types of utilities Does not require prior knowledge of

approximate location or access to utility Can operate in urban conditions in street

right-of-way Covers necessary range of depths and utility

diameters Has acceptable cost

Geophysical Methods◦ Electromagnetic Methods◦ Resistivity Measurements◦ Magnetic Methods◦ Elastic Waves (Acoustics / Sound / Mechanical)◦ Borehole Geophysics◦ Data-Processing Techniques

Marker Methods◦ Passive markers◦ RFID markers

Excavation Methods of Locating Data Management◦ Record generation during utility installation◦ Record updates and maintenance

Introduce wave or signal into ground

Response affected by physical properties of object located in the ground

Information about the properties of the object and its location is inferred from the response

Courtesy of N. Simicevic, Louisiana Tech Univ.

Electromagnetic locators

Ground Penetrating Radar

Acoustic approaches

Sondes Potholing for

confirmation of location

GPR Image: Courtesy IDS

Radiodetection

No one method capable of locating all types of utilities, of all practical diameter ranges in all types of soils

Many methods are affected by interferences from the environment

GPR methods suffer from limited penetration depth in moist and/or conductive soils.◦ Penetration of less than 2-3 ft in some soils◦ Depth-diameter ratios for detection typically less than 12:1 in

normal soils Seismic methods suffer from limited resolution Many require calibration / post-processing / specialized

knowledge & experience for interpreting images

Improve signal to noise ratio◦ Multiple measurements◦ Polarization◦ Arrays of sensors and detectors

Tune technology to specific target Use complementary sensor technologies◦ E.g. GPR plus acoustic

Attempt direct path detection vs. reflection◦ E.g. emitter in deep sewer, detector on surface◦ Cross-bore techniques

Detector moves within potential detection zone Speed of identification and reaction still an issue Does not help with transportation planning

Recent GPS/GIS innovations allow rapid and accurate mapping of surface features of utility systems

Combined with 3-D profile mapping of u/g pipes, offers the ability to build accurate 3-D maps of buried utilities

Guardian Prostar

Mapping the Underworld / VISTA ORFEUS / GIGA OPS / PHMSA Multi-sensor platform development Utility locating test sites◦ Europe◦ USA◦ Brazil

Size of pipe or conduit Direct-buried or in conduit/encasement Size of encasement Material type General condition Age /Ownership Flow direction Pressure / voltage / capacity Depth / elevation Abandoned / out-of-service / active status Transmission / distribution / service line

High quality images

Ability to see water flow, etc.

High resolution, high rate 360º images

Virtual video PTZ at any point

IntegrityMetadata always travels with inspection dataGPS coordinates stored on robot when launched

Coded in a controlled environment

High efficiencyQuality auditsAutomation

Courtesy: Redzone Robotics

Consistent condition and defect assessment (e.g. PACP coding)

Effective asset management

Example: Flexidata Software

Experience Over 200 miles of global Critical Pipe inspected

Multiple Sensors

Integrated, expandable sensor suite to collect accurate data

Distance 8,000’ cable and deployment capability

Depth Down to 150 feet submerged depths

Power Hydraulic tracked platform can operate in high flows and maneuver over, around, or through debris

Access Single access point via 22.5” opening

Mult i -sensor Large Diameter P lat formMulti Sensor Inspection of 36” and larger pipe

Relatively low resolution (for small defects).

Interpretation of images require highly trained geotechnical professionals

Detailed inspection of smaller defects are harder.

Pulsed radar signal Easier interpretation

Gradual deformation of plastic pipes is difficult to detect with CCTV

Need to measure cross-section dimensions and shape accurately

Need to tie measurement to accurate longitudinal or 3-D position

Conceptually simple but systematic errors possible

Recent Study Recommendations◦ NRC Report “Seeing into the Earth”◦ OPS/PHMSA Initiatives◦ Gas Technology Institute◦ UKWIR/AWWARF Initiatives

Utility Locating Improvements◦ Active technology developments◦ Technological Areas of Improvement

Utility Characterization Improvements◦ Active Technology Developments◦ Technological Areas of Improvement

Storage, Retrieval and Utilization of Utility Data Multi-Sensor Platforms /Improved Signal Coupling Development of guidelines Smart tagging Initiation of Education and Training Location of deep utilities External Soil Void Detection Technologies Bench Marking of Current Technologies Deformation Characterization Technologies

Recommendations

Report published and available for download at:http://www.trb.org/StrategicHighwayResearchProgram2SHRP2/SHRP2ResearchReports.aspx

Web-based informational tools nearing completion (preliminary site tour at the end of this presentation)

Three follow-on projects underway based on the R-01 recommendations.

Focus on field technology and its application

Uses “JESS” – an expert system platform

Name

Test 1

Enter “2”

Pipe

Contents

“1” Water

Metallic?

“2” Non-metallic

Conductive soil?

“2” No

History

Used before?

“2” No

Depth Range?

“2” 7 – 12 ft.

Depth-diameter ratio

“1” Ratio less than 6.0

E.g. 15” dia. pipe at 7.0 ft. depth = 5.6

Recommendation

Surface condition improvement

60 case histories currently included in database

12 cases found

One call made, water utility not marked

59 case histories currently included in database

Benefit/cost ratio of 6.6

General Method Description

Equipment

Method Class Med. Freq. Locator

Ray Sterling, Professor Emeritus, Louisiana Tech [email protected] Anspach, J.H. Anspach [email protected] Allouche, TTC Research Director, Louisiana [email protected] Starnes, SHRP2 Program, [email protected]