The AI/ML revolution in sewer pipeline condition assessment and management has already begun

Sewer pipeline assessment can be a dirty job. To make it easier, Autodesk’s Tim Medearis and VAPAR’s Michelle Aguilar teamed up at Autodesk University to show customers How AI/ML in Info360 Asset Can Assist in Sewer Pipeline Condition Assessment and Management. If you’re at all interested in AI, this presentation about how AI and ML is making CCTV sewer inspections easier is probably one of the best and most straightforward use cases for AI in water.

The challenge of aging sewer infrastructure

Sewer pipelines are critical – yet often overlooked – components of urban infrastructure. With millions of miles of pipelines worldwide, utilities face immense challenges maintaining these systems to prevent overflows, blockages, and environmental damage. Traditionally, the process of assessing sewer conditions relies on closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspections, an expensive, time-intensive method requiring expert interpretation of video footage.

As pipes age and budgets tighten, utilities must innovate. AI and Machine Learning (ML) offer transformative potential, streamlining sewer condition assessments and enabling data-driven decision-making. This blog explores how Autodesk’s Info360 Asset and VAPAR’s AI/ML solutions work together to modernize sewer infrastructure management, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency.

The current state of sewer infrastructure

The most recent ASCE Report Card for American Infrastructure gave the US a D+ rating for its wastewater infrastructure:

The U.S. has 700,000–800,000 miles of public sewer mains and 500,000 miles of private lateral sewers, serving 240 million Americans.
Aging pipes and deferred maintenance contribute to an estimated 900 billion gallons of untreated sewage discharged annually.
The EPA reports an investment gap of $105–$150 billion from 2016 to 2025, with pipes comprising 80–85% of total needs.
The nation’s 16,000 wastewater treatment plants are functioning, on average, at 81% of their design capacities, while 15% have reached or exceeded it.

These staggering numbers underscore the urgent need for improved inspection and maintenance strategies.

Traditional pipe inspection: challenges and limitations

The reasons why inspections are conducted is very straightforward:

Proactive: Preventative maintenance to avoid incidents
Tactical: Targeting high-risk areas
Reactive: Addressing immediate failures like blockages or overflows
New adoptions: Ensuring new or rehabilitated pipes meet design standards

The way this typically works is that CCTV cameras – mounted on crawler units – captures footage of pipelines. Operators simultaneously must navigate equipment, manage traffic, and document defects based on regional standards. However, this manual process can be error-prone and time-consuming, with 40% of defects often missed during field inspections.

When AI watches the video for you, you can turn an enormous task into a short review.

How AI/ML transforms sewer condition assessment

VAPAR addresses these challenges by leveraging AI and computer vision to automate defect detection. Here’s how it works:

Image recognition technology: VAPAR’s AI detects structural and operational defects such as cracks, roots, and deposits with precision.
Seamless integration: Utilities upload inspection videos, which VAPAR processes using global reporting standards. Results are available in minutes.
Decision support: AI-generated reports suggest repair strategies, helping utilities prioritize maintenance based on severity and budget constraints.

Info360 Asset: enhancing asset management

Autodesk’s Info360 Asset takes sewer management to the next level, integrating with VAPAR for a holistic approach to asset management. As a cloud-based solution, Info360 Asset provides real-time collaboration and analysis, offering:

CCTV inspection validation: AI-driven error correction for videos and reports
Task tracking: Management of operations like smoke tests, repairs, and linings
Risk assessment: Combining GIS data, hydraulic models, and inspection results to identify high-risk assets
Rehabilitation planning: Decision trees that group assets for future work, optimizing capital improvement plans

You can easily correct existing or add additional PACP observations to the database.

The business case for automation

Manual sewer inspections are inefficient and unsustainable. On average, utilities around the world inspect less than 4% of their networks annually, equating to a 25-year cycle to assess all assets. With automated solutions:

Inspection coverage increases
Error rates drop significantly
Budgets stretch further by prioritizing critical repairs over reactive fixes

A green check mark indicates inspections have been validated and are ready for approval.

VAPAR and Info360 Asset in action

Together, VAPAR and Info360 Asset deliver a powerful combination of AI and cloud technology, enabling utilities to make faster, smarter decisions:

Upload and analyze: Inspection videos are processed and defect data is presented in minutes.
Review and refine: Human quality assurance ensures results align with utility needs.
Plan repairs: AI-driven insights guide decisions on when and how to address issues.

Read our customer story about how GHD created a CCTV program for Aqua America.

The future of sewer infrastructure management

The integration of VAPAR’s AI capabilities with Autodesk’s Info360 Asset represents a significant leap forward for utilities. By embracing these technologies, utilities can address today’s infrastructure challenges and ensure sustainable management for the future.

Learn more about VAPAR and Info360 Asset work together on the VAPAR website and learn more about How Info360 Asset is solving the common challenges of CCTV right here on the One Water Blog.