A compact inspection-class ROV travelled the full length of a buried dam intake conduit, giving a regional water utility clear video evidence of its internal condition without draining the supply.
A regional water utility asked AUS-ROV to inspect the inside of a raw water intake conduit at one of its dams in south-east Queensland, to support its ongoing asset management. We completed a full-length general visual inspection in a single day on site.
The Challenge
Intake conduits like this one stay full of water and are too small and confined for a person to enter safely. Draining a supply conduit is costly and disruptive, so the owner needed a clear, full-length record of its internal condition without taking it out of service. Visibility inside pipes of this kind can change quickly, which calls for careful, steady piloting.
Our Approach
We deployed our inspection-class ROV from the pump station and guided it along the full length of the conduit, recording high-definition video the whole way.
Every joint and feature along the way was recorded and logged against a consistent set of conventions, so each location can be found again and compared in future inspections. Slow, controlled movement and careful positioning kept the footage clear.
Outcomes and Deliverables
Full penetration of the conduit was achieved, so the whole length was inspected and recorded on video from end to end.
The owner received the HD video and a structured inspection report with photographs from every joint and location, prepared as an observation record to support their own engineering assessment.
Why It Matters
Intake conduits are critical but rarely seen. A visual record taken from inside lets an asset owner prioritise further investigation only where it is needed, and avoid unnecessary drain-downs or excavation. It also creates a baseline to compare against future inspections.
Planning a similar inspection?
Our ROV tooling reaches places people cannot, and our reports are reviewed and signed off by industry-recognised engineering professionals. We have been operating since 2011.
inspections@aus-rov.com.au | 0412 291 870 | https://www.aus-rov.com.au/contact-us