Strategic Integration of Risk-Based Asset Management to Improve Large-Diameter Pipelines

During the past 5 years, technologies related to inspection, assessment and trenchless renewal of the wastewater conveyance system enterprise have grown and improved dramatically. These changes come with the challenge of processing enormous quantities of detailed data information regarding the condition of each asset. For sanitary sewers, this includes information associated with the structural, hydraulic, and maintenance-related conditions. This paper will present a summary of a tiered (or step-wise) approach that has been used by a number of cities and wastewater utilities to elevate their sewer renewal and improvement programs using a risk-based methodology to select the best trenchless solution(s). The presentation will highlight how utilities are using asset management platforms to process and manage data from sources such as CCTV, sonar imaging, 2-D laser profile, 3-D imaging, flow, H2S, and pipe-penetrating radar and apply predictive models to identify highest risk assets based on likelihood and consequence of failure. The paper will also help conference attendees answer the following basic questions: 1. When and how should field diagnostic testing and inspection technologies be used to find and fix high-risk assets (when is "enough" enough)? 2. What software platforms are needed or available to post-process this information efficiently? 3. Can I use the results of an asset management program to pick the appropriate trenchless technology? 4. What are realistic cost metrics to implement such a program and what kind of savings can I expect over traditional approaches? 5. What additional I/T resources are needed?