Multi-Sensor Pipe Inspection Data Synchronization for Condition Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Uncertainty about the location and condition of infrastructure assets leads to a reactive approach to maintenance, resulting in emergency situations and increased costs due to utility catastrophic failures.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for collecting and processing disparate data within a pipe using a sensor arrangement that includes multiple sensors, a synchronization module, a database, a processor, and a user interface to present synchronized data for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors are deployed within the pipe to collect comprehensive data, then the reliability of infrastructure condition assessment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor arrangement is divided into multiple independent sensor units, each collecting specific types of data (video, acoustic, gas, etc.). This segmentation allows comprehensive monitoring while keeping individual sensor components manageable and modular, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive data collection and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor arrangement integrates multiple sensor types (video cameras, acoustic sensors, gas sensors) into a single multi-functional platform that can simultaneously collect various types of infrastructure condition data. This universal approach improves reliability through comprehensive monitoring while consolidating what would otherwise be separate complex systems into one integrated unit.
2Loss of information
If disparate data from multiple sensors is collected simultaneously, then the comprehensiveness of pipe condition information is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
A synchronization module acts as an intermediary between multiple sensor data streams, coordinating and aligning the disparate data in time and space. This mediator component resolves the contradiction by managing the complexity of data integration while preserving the comprehensiveness of information from all sensor types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple disparate data streams (video, acoustic, gas composition) into a unified synchronized dataset. By combining these different types of information through the synchronization module, the system achieves comprehensive pipe condition monitoring while managing the measurement complexity through integrated processing.
3Measurement precision
If a synchronization module is implemented to coordinate sensor data, then the accuracy of data integration is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization module serves as a specialized intermediary component that handles the complex task of data coordination separately from the main sensor and processing systems. This dedicated mediator improves measurement precision through specialized synchronization logic while containing the complexity increase to a specific, manageable module rather than distributing it throughout the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
An approach for collecting disparate data within a pipe involves a sensor arrangement configured to be deployed within the pipe. The sensor arrangement includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect disparate data related to the pipe. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors is coupled to a respective collection computer on the sensor arrangement. A synchronization module is configured to synchronize the disparate data. A database is configured to store the synchronized data. A processor is configured to process the synchronized data. A user interface configured to present the synchronized data to a user.