ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses techniques used to perform visual inspections of buried pipelines – including technology and best practices. Many problems impacting water and sewer lines are visible to the naked eye: obstructions like roots can block flow, cracks can lead to a loss of structural integrity, and improper connections can enable large quantities of unwanted infiltration. In the 21st century, most inspections are performed by teleoperated cameras or robotic systems. When crafting a specification for closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection, think carefully about what technology will be required to produce the information needed to manage a system. Lenses on traditional cameras focus light from a subset of the area in front of the camera onto a digital imager, known as a charge-coupled device. Many sewer inspections take place under challenging conditions – some manhole access points are located in the middle of busy roads, necessitating expensive traffic control services.
