A remote-controlled buggy fitted with a 360-degree camera, offering a glimpse into what lies beneath the state’s road network, is being trialled at the Singleton Transport for NSW depot as part of a new approach to culvert inspections.
Pipe Crawler is being trialled at 10 depots across NSW, helping maintenance crews inspect the culverts under roads faster, more safely and more effectively than current methods. Across the state road network there are around 100,000 culverts and other drainage structures that channel water underneath roads or embankments, which need to be regularly inspected for damage to protect the condition of the road base.
The 12-month proof of concept trial will help Transport for NSW improve its understanding of the condition of these assets, supporting safer and more targeted maintenance planning. Pipe Crawler offers a view within the confined space of a culvert and a wealth of quality data about its condition, all captured from a safe distance behind the buggy’s remote controls.
Transport Secretary Josh Murray said road maintenance crews, including those at Singleton, were being trained to use the buggies.
“So far the feedback from the teams has been really positive and they enjoy using these buggies as they’re simple to manoeuvre and are providing excellent imagery from all angles inside the culvert,” Mr Murray said.
“Not only are there safety benefits for our maintenance teams, who can see into inaccessible culverts remotely, but the data collected will help us identify any issues sooner and more accurately, so critical culvert repairs can be prioritised.”
The device was developed by Transport Asset Area Manager Matt Hellyer, whose interest in remote-controlled aircraft inspired the idea.
“The components of this innovation are relatively low cost, durable and easy to use – an off the shelf remote controlled buggy with a 360-degree action camera and lighting mounted on top,” Mr Hellyer said.
Images captured are uploaded to an app that displays footage in a “street view” style platform, which the corridor planning team uses to assign a risk rating to each culvert and prioritise repairs.
Other regional depots involved in the trial include Bega, Narrabri, Bomaderry, Narrandera, Dubbo, Grafton, Tamworth, Mardi and Yass.
