Application of UAV for Sewer Pipe Inspection

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in sewer pipe inspection as a method to screen pipelines and identify which require further detailed inspection. An experiment was conducted by comparing inspection speed, operator's safety, and reliability of data against conventional inspection methods, CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) and manhole camera. The result was that UAV could inspect the same pipeline length in fewer days when compared to the other methods proving to be highly efficient, and can also be considered a safe method as the operation can be completed without the operator entering a manhole throughout the inspection. The reliability of data was also sufficient as the UAV could collect images of inside the pipe with high visibility. From the obtained result, it can be said that UAV is an effective screening method to efficiently conduct CCTV inspection.