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Pipe inspections require navigating tight, confined spaces and hazardous environments, posing significant challenges in terms of safety and accessibility. The Pipe Trekker crawler offers a robust solution for such operations, significantly enhancing both safety and efficiency.
A-150 X Package
This case study explores the real-world application of the A-200 Pipe Trekker crawler by the St. Charles Parish Public Works department. It details the crawler's use, benefits, and impact on operations and costs.
Kevin Moore, QA Manager & EAM Manager at St. Charles Parish Public Works, and his team have been using the A-200 crawler regularly for pipe inspections. Their experiences provide valuable insights into the practical advantages and occasional challenges of employing this technology.
Enhancing Safety and Efficiency in Pipe Inspections
In environments where manual inspection presents safety hazards and logistical challenges, Kevin's team relies on the A-200 crawler for these difficult pipe inspections. Utilized multiple times per week, the crawler navigates through confined pipes and culverts, conducting comprehensive visual inspections without requiring human entry.
The deployment of the Pipe Trekker crawler has substantially reduced the necessity for personnel to operate in potentially risky conditions. By eliminating the need for human entry into confined spaces, the crawler enhances safety protocols and mitigates risks associated with traditional inspection methods.
This shift not only prioritizes the well-being of personnel but also significantly streamlines inspection processes.
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Operational Insights: Optimization and Precision with the A-200 Pipe Crawler
This section provides an in-depth look at the practical experiences and benefits observed by Kevin's team while using the Pipe Trekker crawler for pipe inspections, detailing the advantages of intuitive controls, durability, and high quality data collection.
User-Friendly Operation and Mechanical Durability
The Pipe Trekker crawler's design facilitates straightforward deployment and retrieval, even in challenging locations.
Pipe crawler deployment through a manhole.
Kevin noted,
“The only issue we’ve had…we had it turned over on its side pretty far down the pipe and we had to kind of yank it out, you know, that was our only issue, but it was still manageable. And that was only one time, which is impressive considering how often we use this thing. Everything else has been great.”
This incident highlights the crawler’s resilience and ease of handling, even when minor issues arise.
One of the key factors contributing to the crawler's user-friendliness is its intuitive controls. Kevin and his team have found the control system to be straightforward, making it easy to navigate the crawler through various pipe environments without extensive training. The intuitive interface ensures that users can quickly learn to operate the device effectively, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.
Mechanically, the crawler’s design is simple and smart, enhancing its ease of use. Kevin mentioned that while the team had to learn a few new things initially, the overall mechanical simplicity meant that these learning curves were not steep. This simplicity also translates to fewer potential points of failure and easier maintenance, contributing to the crawler’s reliability in the field.
Additionally, the industrial-grade, rugged build quality of the Pipe Trekker crawler ensures it can withstand harsh conditions commonly encountered during pipe inspections. Its durable construction means it is capable of handling the physical stresses of navigating through confined and rough environments without sustaining damage. This robustness gives Kevin and his team confidence in the crawler’s performance and longevity, even under demanding conditions.
A-200 crawler deployment into a pipe.
High-Quality Data Collection for Informed Decision-Making
Kevin's team utilizes the Pipe Trekker crawler to capture detailed pictures and video footage of pipe conditions. This data is critical for assessing the integrity of the pipes, identifying the necessity for repairs, and scheduling maintenance operations. The high-definition visual data collected by the crawler allows the team to identify issues based on clear and accurate imagery.
Kevin also remarked on the efficiency of the data collection process, and the benefit of using memory cards. This method of storing inspection data on a memory card facilitates convenient export to any PC for further analysis. The team appreciated the simplicity of this process, as it ensures that all visual data is easily accessible and ready for detailed examination.
The visual evidence gathered through the crawler's cameras helps in pinpointing specific problem areas within the pipes, thus enabling precise and targeted repair strategies.
Kevin’s team was impressed with the quality of data, emphasizing that the captured images and videos are clear and detailed, which is essential for accurate assessment and decision-making. The ease of capturing this data and transferring it to a computer for further analysis streamlines their workflow, enhancing both the efficiency and effectiveness of their inspection processes.
Overall, the Pipe Trekker crawler's data collection capabilities significantly enhance the team's ability to maintain pipe infrastructure, ensuring timely and well-informed maintenance operations.
Case Study: Real-World Application of the A-200 Pipe Trekker
Image courtesy of St Charles Parish
In a real-world application, Kevin's team encountered a challenging scenario where they needed to inspect a pipe extending several hundred feet. The condition of the pipe was uncertain, posing a significant dilemma for the team. Traditional manual inspection methods were deemed impractical due to safety concerns and the physical strain involved in accessing the confined space.
However, with the implementation of the A-200 pipe crawler, the team found an effective solution. Deploying the crawler into the pipe, they were able to navigate through the length of the pipe, capturing detailed visual data along the way.
The crawler's high-resolution cameras provided clear and comprehensive imagery of the interior, enabling the team to identify problem areas such as cracks, corrosion, and blockages. This visual data enabled the team to make informed decisions about the necessary maintenance measures.
Image courtesy of St Charles Parish
After reviewing the captured data, the team determined that grouting the interior of the pipe was the most appropriate course of action to address the identified issues. This decision not only avoided the costly and disruptive process of pipe replacement but also ensured the structural integrity of the pipe was maintained.
By opting for grouting, Kevin's team dramatically reduced maintenance and repair costs while minimizing downtime and disruption to their operations. The ability of the Pipe Trekker crawler to provide actionable insights quickly and efficiently proved invaluable in this real-world scenario, highlighting its practical utility in pipe inspection and maintenance tasks.
NASSCO PACP Certification and Inspection 101
Key Benefits of the A-200 Pipe Trekker in Inspections
Through the implementation of the Pipe Trekker A-200 crawler, Kevin's team has experienced a range of tangible benefits, including enhanced safety, reduction of expenses, and efficiency of operations.
Enhanced Safety
One of the primary benefits of using the Pipe Trekker crawler is the enhanced safety it provides. Kevin highlighted the instance involving a large pipe with a catch basin that posed a safety risk if inspected manually.
“We had one pipe... it’s long with a catch basin. You could technically hunch over and walk through the pipe, but I don’t know how many people want to walk more than 50 feet or so hunched over. So, we were in there several hundred feet and we discovered that the condition wasn’t as bad as we thought and we just needed some grout.”
Reduction in Operational Costs
This discovery also contributed to significant cost savings. Kevin's team found issues that were less severe than initially feared, allowing them to opt for less expensive repair methods. For example, instead of replacing a problematic pipe, they were able to decide on grouting the pipe joints, a less costly and equally effective solution.
“We’re going to pay a company to grout the inside of the joints of the pipe as opposed to having to replace the pipe…it’s saving money and we’re getting answers quickly.”
The Benefit of Portability
The mobility of the pipe crawler is another standout feature. Kevin emphasized its ability to be deployed in locations where larger, trailer-mounted systems would be impractical.
This portability ensures that inspections can be conducted quickly and efficiently, even in remote, difficult to reach locations, reducing downtime and increasing overall productivity.
“The mobile part of it is the best. Where that pipe was, we would not have been able to get a trailer back there, so being able to get it in and out easily was the best way. It was still a challenge to lower it down into a ditch first, but even that was a piece of cake compared to something that's in a trailer.”
Key Takeaways and Insights
The Pipe Trekker crawler has proven to be an invaluable tool for Kevin Moore and his team at St Charles Parish Public Works, offering a combination of safety, cost-efficiency, and operational effectiveness.
Its ease of use, coupled with its ability to operate in confined and hazardous environments, makes it an ideal solution for pipe inspections.
This case study highlights the practical benefits associated with deploying pipe crawlers in challenging inspection scenarios.
The insights from Kevin’s experience demonstrate the practical advantages and operational efficiencies that can be achieved with the Pipe Trekker crawler, reinforcing its value as a critical tool in modern infrastructure inspection and maintenance.
Why Pipe Trekker is the Choice of Industry Professionals
Pipe Trekker offers the industry's first truly portable, battery-operated, submersible crawler systems, drawing from over a decade of experience with Deep Trekker underwater robots.
These crawlers are user-friendly, requiring minimal training, and feature lift arms and high-resolution cameras for real-time inspections and data recording. With long battery life, they are ideal for remote and difficult to reach environments.
Whatever your project is, we have a customizable solution for you. Pipe Trekker provides various models to accommodate different pipe sizes and requirements, along with modular add-ons like sonar, laser scanners, and reporting software integration. For customizable solutions that make inspections easier, safer, and more cost-effective, contact our team of industry experts today.
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