SwRI Culvert Inspection System

Southwest Research Institute:
Aging infrastructure is recognized as one of the greatest problems affecting the long-term economic health and safety of the nation, yet the high cost of making repairs demands improved inspection and evaluation technologies. SwRI has developed the Ultrasonic Culvert Inspection System, a low-cost tool to rapidly assess the condition of culverts after flooding events and perform in-service inspections. The self-contained probe uses an array of ultrasonic sensors to build a three-dimensional image of flooded or partially filled culverts. The sonars have the ability to see through muddy water, as is common in such field conditions, while a 360-degree optical camera provides live visual information as well. A rover/skid/propulsion transport mechanism allows the systems to be deployed in dry culverts or other field conditions.