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Geospatial has performed projects for owners involved in a range of utilities,from municipal clients to companies including Sunoco, Comcast and Qwest.Design firms and subsurface utility engineering companies have also turned toGeospatial’s technology.Smart Probe TechnologyThe Smart Probe technology can be used for centerline 3D mapping of avariety of utility pipelines, municipal (water, sanitary, storm systems), electricaland power (transmission and distribution), telecom, facilities (government,military, shipping ports), and oil and gas (transmission, gathering,distribution).The Smart Probe technology consists of two main components. The firstis an array of data collection instruments, which include accelerometers,gyroscopes and odometers located within each of the probe bodies. Thesecond is a post-mission software package that extracts, computes andinterprets the collected data and allows for the seamless transfer of the collecteddata into various GIS databases.As the probe moves through the pipeline, it records all changes in inclination,heading and velocity at 800 Hz and stores the information internally on theprobe. Once inserted into the pipeline, the probe operates autonomously —there is no umbilical or surface communication required — at a speed of about6 feet per second.The Smart Probe operates in a relative coordinate frame, measuring a continuouscenterline 3D trajectory. Registering and correcting the probe isachieved by GPS survey (accuate to plus or minus 0.10 m) of entry, exit andintermediate points along the pipeline route for long sections. This provides theabsolute XYZ pipeline positions for horizontal and elevation points in anydatum or coordinate system worldwide. By transferring the complete pipe centerlineinto AutoCAD or a GIS database, accurate XYZ registration creates thebaseline or validation of the true location of the asset.A key goal in developing the smart probe technology was to design the instrumentationin such a way that it is capable of being used within a series of differentprobe body styles that would allow for the use of the technology within awide range of pipeline types, sizes and environments. Configuration can bescaled for 1.5-in. to 60-in. and bigger applications.New ApproachThe Town of Oak Island, N.C., is a community of 9,000 year-round residentssituated along the Atlantic Coast about halfway between Wilmington, N.C., andMyrtle Beach, S.C. In 2005, the Town made the decision to install a vacuumsewer system to treat its wastewater, eliminating the use of septic tanks. Withouta treatment plant of its own, the Town needed to install a sewer forcemain underthe Intercoastal Waterway to convey wastes to the West Brunswick RegionalReclamation Facility on the mainland.Smart Probe consists of an array of data collection instruments, which include accelerometers,gyroscopes and odometers.November/December 2010Water Utility Infrastructure Management 23