Miners Rest manhole probed by robot

THREE organisations tested a sewer robot in Miners Rest on Tuesday.

La Trobe University Engineering, Intelligent Water Networks and Central Highlands Water were involved in the creation, testing and modifying of a Sewer Access Point Penetration Review Robot, or SAPP2R.

“The SAPP2R team from La Trobe University Engineering have designed a robot which can be lowered into a manhole to assess the condition of the concrete in the manhole by measuring the forces required for its probe to penetrate the concrete,” Paul O’Donohue, Central Highlands Water’s Managing Director said.

“With safety being our number one priority for our employees and the community, the SAPP2R robot also minimises safety risks through factors such as confined space entry.”

Hydrogen sulphide is produced in sewers from the breakdown of organic matter in the sewage and this gas leads to degradation of sewers over time causing weakness in manholes and mains.

The SAPP2R is used to test how soft the concrete may have become. The robot got its name from sapper, a soldier responsible for building and repairing roads and bridges and clearing mines.

“In this case, our soldier is a robotic one which analyses critical infrastructure,” an Intelligent Water Networks spokesperson said.

During the trial an operator above ground controlled the robot via a mobile phone.

The SAPP2R project has been running for almost 12 months.

Intelligent Water Networks will do an assessment of the technology at the end of the trial and either recommend it for business as usual or call for further modifications and trials.

Central Highlands Water will look at the possibility of using the technology for a more accurate assessment than the visual inspection it currently conducts, if the SAPP2R is recommended for business.