Finding Infrastructure with Non-Destructive Imaging Technologies (FINDIT)
Abstract
Novel uses for existing technologies and new post-processing techniques have been developed to generate a level and detail of information that will make a step-change to standard practice in mapping and assessing the condition of buried infrastructure. The most appropriate sensing technologies for buried telecommunications ducts have been identified as Ground Penetrating Radar and Acoustic reflectometry. Dielectric permittivity changes in the near-surface can manifest themselves in different ways within GPR data. Numerical modelling work has been undertaken by applying a Kuepper signal and an exploding source, and using various different frequencies to determine minute changes (e.g. cracks in pipes) in an object or feature within the near surface. This modelling demonstrated that there is a clear difference between an empty duct, a duct partially filled with cables and a damaged duct. This was confirmed in a laboratory test on dry sand to determine the detectability of a hole in a plastic pipe. This has formed the foundation new data processing algorithms to detect the presence of such defects in real and synthetic data sets. Future work will focus on the development of a test site and field trials to assess the detectability of defects under realistic field conditions. This ongoing programme of work will be validated and iteratively improved by field trials under controlled and live commercial conditions. Finally the cost/benefit of the new workflows develop evaluated through the development of business models for the application of such techniques in telecoms, water and energy supply sectors. In the UK, the majority of the communication network is buried in ducts which are often several decades old. They have often collapsed or become blocked so that spare capacity cannot be used. There is currently no surface detection technology which can accurately locate the position of these defects (or even accurately locate the ducts in all circumstances), so time consuming and costly manual rodding is performed which cannot detect subsequent blockages, resulting in inadequate and inefficient repair planning, increasing the costs and causing disruption to road users.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017AGUFMNS33C..11T
- Keywords:
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- 0545 Modeling;
- COMPUTATIONAL GEOPHYSICS;
- 0699 General or miscellaneous;
- ELECTROMAGNETICS;
- 0935 Seismic methods;
- EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS;
- 0999 General or miscellaneous;
- EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS