Boring Inspection System for Underground Utility Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Horizontal boring techniques often result in unintended damage to underground infrastructure such as utility lines due to the difficulty in steering and detecting existing utilities, especially in urban areas with insufficient documentation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors such as pressure, acoustic, image, motion, vibration, thermal, chemical, moisture, current, and magnetic sensors is used to inspect the bore path and detect intersections with underground objects, allowing for real-time monitoring and mapping of the borehole's trajectory to avoid collisions with utilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pneumatic piercing tools are used for horizontal boring, then installation cost is reduced, but steering control capability deteriorates and risk of damaging existing utilities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping of underground utilities using sensors (electromagnetic, acoustic, visual) before the boring operation begins. This advance detection allows operators to plan the bore path to avoid existing utilities, compensating for the poor steering control of pneumatic tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the bore path during operation using sensors that detect changes in acoustic, electromagnetic, or visual characteristics. This real-time feedback allows operators to adjust the boring direction to avoid utilities, partially mitigating the steering limitations of pneumatic tools.
2Ease of manufacture
If pneumatic piercing tools are used for horizontal boring, then installation cost is reduced, but reliability of avoiding utility damage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping of underground utilities using sensors (electromagnetic, acoustic, visual) before the boring operation begins. This advance detection allows operators to plan the bore path to avoid existing utilities, compensating for the poor steering control of pneumatic tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the bore path during operation using sensors that detect changes in acoustic, electromagnetic, or visual characteristics. This real-time feedback allows operators to adjust the boring direction to avoid utilities, partially mitigating the steering limitations of pneumatic tools.
3Device complexity
If traditional boring inspection methods are used, then device complexity is low, but measurement precision of underground feature detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple sensing modalities (electromagnetic sensors, acoustic sensors, visual cameras) into a single integrated inspection system. This multi-sensor approach improves detection precision by cross-validating signals and providing redundant detection methods, while the integrated design prevents excessive complexity multiplication.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting electromagnetic fields from utilities, listening for acoustic signals from water flow or gas, and capturing visual images of the bore path. This multi-functionality allows a single system to detect various utility types with high precision without requiring separate specialized devices for each utility type.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively identifies and maps underground features and utilities, enabling operators to avoid damage during boring operations and quickly diagnose collisions, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of horizontal boring processes.
Implementation Method 1
one or more pressure sensors configured to detect a pressure change in the event the bore head enters a crossing conduit
Implementation Method 2
one or more acoustic sensors configured to detect an acoustic signal indicative of a crossing conduit along the borehole
Implementation Method 3
one or more image sensors configured to capture an image of an intersection involving the borehole and an object or cavity beneath the surface
Implementation Method 4
one or more magnetic sensors
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates generally to apparatus, systems, and methods for boring in earth or other environments, both manmade and natural. More specifically, but not exclusively, the disclosure relates to devices and methods for inspecting the path of a bore (e.g., including horizontal, angular, vertical bores in 3-dimensional space) to detect any damage caused by the boring activity to infrastructure in the path of the bore. Such infrastructure may include, but not by way of limitation, gas lines, sewer lines, communication lines (e.g., fiber optic lines), electric lines, and other infrastructure. The disclosure further relates to devices and methods for mapping locations of underground objects, geological compositions, and other detectable underground features.