Initial Situation and Challenges

Before implementing WinCan solutions, creating reports in our company was an extremely time-consuming and complex process. The image data from sewer TV recordings were manually integrated into Word documents and supplemented with overview diagrams. This manual process took a lot of time and significantly complicated both management and data exchange. Dependence on an external partner for larger projects further limited our flexibility. When our business partner dissolved in 2012, we decided to overcome this bottleneck by acquiring our own vehicle system and the "ProTouch" reporting solution from WinCan. A year later, we expanded our system with a WinCan VX license, laying the foundation for future-oriented, independent reporting and management of our projects.

Manhole inspections pose complex challenges for inspection crews and maintenance planners. Not only do they require different camera equipment than pipelines, but manhole inspections also have different data collection needs including multi-level inspection procedures.  

WinCan Mobile is a sewer inspection application for smart devices that helps collect, organize and share manhole inspection data. It allows operators to quickly record asset dimensions, material, construction, system information and much more. This data is tied to a geographical location, which allows users to transfer data into GIS software and support planning via asset management integrations like Trimble’s Cityworks or CentralSquare EAM.

You can also snap photos of the asset’s condition, making it easy to identify key defects and determine future maintenance. When inspections are complete, the project syncs back up to WinCan Web, where it can be processed and reviewed.  

Streamline Manhole Project Creation

When AIMS companies set out in 2007 to build a turnkey operation providing municipal and industrial inspection and cleaning services, they had no idea just how much sewer data their hard work would create. Today, they operate out of 17 locations across the United States and provide a wide range of municipal wastewater services. Among their most popular offerings is manhole inspection, which has seen increased demand in recent years. As a result, project completion rates increased and datasets began to swell.

Sewer inspection software doesn’t exist in a void: It is only as valuable as the data you collect – and the equipment it integrates with. Smart system operators seek out flexible software that lets them pick the right equipment for the job, regardless of manufacturer. 

An upgraded version of WinCan’s CleverScan software module (1.7) includes several new and updated features to improve user experience. 

More data can be gathered at once during manhole inspections than ever before, thanks to a recent integration between CleverScan and the Trimble R2 receiver, in conjunction with a WinCan VX Expert license.

Sewer maintenance professionals depend heavily on sewer inspection equipment and software. In simple terms, the equipment gathers video and measurements from inside the sewer, and the software allows us to classify, analyze and archive that data. With the latest generation of software yielding new insights and better maintenance decisions, choosing a software platform is as important as choosing equipment. However, software often comes bundled into a crawler sale, so purchasers may fail to understand their full range of options. Ultimately, many settle for what’s presented, rather than what’s possible.

Manhole inspections are an essential task for municipalities. By some estimates, manholes account for 40% of inflow and infiltration, and the structural integrity of manholes impacts the safety of roadways. These key factors make it especially important for municipalities to collect manhole data and use powerful software that allows them to do so efficiently. Now, WinCan’s new Manholes Module makes it easy for municipalities to integrate them into a sewer management workflow.