Advancements in Non-Destructive Technologies for Pipeline Condition Assessment

Abstract

Risk based asset management is a key principle behind Queensland Urban Utilities’ management of its critical assets, which involves identifying the current condition of assets and understanding the risk of failure. This enables selective repair or replacement to extend asset life and defer capital expenditure beyond standard desktop methods. The key to a risk based approach is to assess the current condition of an asset which until recent times has been a hurdle for utilities. However, new technologies are emerging to inspect water and sewage mains, which help collect the data to fill the condition information gaps. Queensland Urban Utilities has been utilising new technologies on their own pipeline network, to evaluate their application and value in assessing the condition of critical mains. This paper outlines the inspection and validation of critical large diameter steel and prestressed concrete pipe mains utilising innovative non-destructive inline technologies.

Techniques