UCI engineers take care of the aging water infrastructure
Mar 26, 2010
No mere pipe dream: UCI engineers are working on robotic technology to rehabilitate the nation's aging water infrastructure
"This is a nationwide emergency," she says. "Some pipelines are nearly 100 years old, and the problem is very serious, especially in urban areas, where it’s difficult to access leaking and burst pipes."
A UCI engineering research team led by Feng is working with two companies to build a prototype robot that could repair and retrofit aging water pipes by applying a tough reinforcement material around their interiors – eliminating the need for costly excavation or replacement.
The public-private partnership also comprises Fibrwrap Construction Inc., a pioneer in the trenchless application of advanced composites for structural renovation, and Fyfe Company LLC, a global leader in the development of fiber-reinforced polymers for civil infrastructure rehabilitation.
"Currently, construction crews must dig trenches to find damaged pipe segments, which is a passive and expensive way of fixing the water system," Feng says. "In cities, trenching can be impossible."
It was announced in December that the $17.6 million robot project will receive $8.5 million over five years from the National Institute of Standards & Technology’s very competitive Technology Innovation Program, which supports high-risk, high-reward research addressing critical national needs, such as infrastructure monitoring and repair. Only 20 projects won TIP awards in 2009.
Simple robots have been used to inspect pipes for some time, but the task of robotically applying a carbon-fiber coating to the insides of old pipes with unpredictable flaws, imperfect shapes and uneven surfaces is a far bigger technical challenge, says Feng, whose UCI team includes Masanobu Shinozuka, Distinguished Professor and chair of civil & environmental engineering and a world-renowned expert in structural engineering.
So that the robot can find areas needing reinforcement, researchers are integrating into its design an advanced sensor system to gauge contact pressure against the pipe wall and trigger the application process. In 2008, Shinozuka won a TIP award to develop this water-pipe-damage-detecting technology. UCI is the only institution to have received TIP funding in both 2008 and 2009.
"This robot needs to be intelligent," says Feng, who is internationally known for her invention of sensors that continually monitor the soundness of bridges, buildings and other structures. "It has to see and feel and constantly adjust to the pipe surface. Smart robots like this are very different from those used in manufacturing."
She anticipates that the robot ultimately will adapt to various pipe sizes and conditions and be able to lay carbon-fiber coating 11 times faster than human crews.
"If this project is successful," Feng says, "a commercialized robotic system could potentially save the U.S. economy about $245 billion and give the nation a lead in the growing world market for water infrastructure technology."
Contact:
University of California
Irvine
CA 92697
PH.: 949-824-5011
E-Mail: ucinfo@ucapplication.net
Internet: www.universityofcalifornia.edu
More News and Articles
May 17, 2024
News
Reverse engineering the insect brain
UK technology start-up Opteran is on a mission to transform the world of autonomy with advanced “natural intelligence” technology that mimics the brains of insects. Jon Excell reports.
Until now, most efforts …
May 14, 2024
News
InfoTiles to advance data-driven power generation solution
Norwegian digital analytics company, InfoTiles, known for its innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in water and wastewater management, is extending …
May 12, 2024
News
Labour pledge to tackle four key barriers in UK energy transition
Grid delays, planning delays, the ‘growing’ skills gap and supply chain problems will be rectified by the Labour party if it wins the next general election.
Speaking at Innovation …
May 10, 2024
News
A master in customised pipes
Australian Custom Pipes no longer needs an introduction. The independent, Australian-owned polyethylene pipe manufacturer has been making waves for more than 20 years.
The company’s quality polyethylene (PE) pipes …
May 08, 2024
News
Improving trenchless installations with Riteline
Riteline spacers have been successfully appraised by the Water Services Association of Australia, providing a new option for pipeline installations that complies with WSA PS-324 for casing spacers.
May 06, 2024
News
Redefining relining in Wodonga
In a step towards enhancing stormwater infrastructure, M. Tucker & Sons recently completed a challenging relining project for the Wodonga City Council.
The relining project, commissioned by the Wodonga City Council …
Apr 29, 2024
News
Minimising cultural impacts with trenchless
Through the benefits of trenchless technology, Yarra Valley Water is minimising impacts on the Upper Darebin Creek branch sewer project.
The project consists of building a 2.7km sewer pipe in Epping, …
Apr 26, 2024
News
Bothar’s cutting head innovation
The trenchless industry in Australia continues to grow and the need to provide customised solutions becomes vital for a leading subsurface contractor.
Recognising the need for advanced solutions to meet the growing …
Apr 24, 2024
News
Sustainable drainage solutions: German Start-up transforms urban water management.
Germany boasts a well-established infrastructure for managing rainwater and wastewater, yet many developing countries lack such systems. Addressing this gap, …
Apr 22, 2024
News
HDD tooling that gets the job done
Horizontal directional drilling is a dynamic process that constantly changes and adapts to suit a range of applications across utilities and infrastructure. Operators looking to get the most from their equipment …
Apr 19, 2024
News
WATCH: Overnight with SAERTEX-LINER H20 in São Paulo
Available through Pipe Core, high-quality liner SAERTEX-LINER H20 performed under pressure in São Paulo, Brazil.
Maintaining aging potable water pipe infrastructure is a constant challenge …
Apr 17, 2024
News
Immersive media provides wastewater experience in Denmark
An immersive media experience (IMX) may not be what most people want when they think about industrial wastewater, but that is exactly what visitors can expect when they visit a new installation …
Contact
University of CaliforniaUniversity of California