New tech frontier: Madrid puts drones in the sewers

The flying machines are self-piloted, and AI will interpret the data collected by them

Canal de Isabel II, the water supply company of the Madrid region, has begun using drones to inspect its sewer network for problems and deficiencies. The drones are programmed to operate autonomously throughout the vast network of underground tunnels and collect information.

When we say vast, consider that Madrid has some 2,500 kilometres of accessible galleries that can be visited by the company's technical personnel. It’s precisely the use of drones, though, that will ease the workload and safety for these workers by saving them unnecessary trips down there.

What’s more, the drones collect and record data that allows for comparisons and the compiling of trends and reports about the status of the sewers.

Drone versatility

We’re used to thinking about drones as the technology used to explore the altitudes high above our heads, however, the Madrid water company has shown that their applications can be ever more varied.

As it flies the drone records high-resolution images that are subsequently analysed for defects and obstructions in the network, such as cracks or other structural changes.

The analysis and interpretation itself are done using artificial intelligence programs that provide automated, objective and reliable information on the state of the pipelines and even reflect the actions necessary to undertake in each section of the network.

The combination of the results of the reports and the audiovisual resources filmed by the device, which in addition to the standard images, also creates a point cloud of the route, saves time, optimizes costs, and standardizes the analysis of the defects.

The water supply company also employs drones in other parts of its infrastructure, such as pipelines that come out of the dams or service galleries of this network.