A state-of-the-art-review of underground concrete sewage pipelines detection technologies

Abstract

Concrete sewage pipelines constitute a critical component of urban underground lifeline systems within cities. However, due to congenital deficiencies (poor pipe quality, inadequate planning, and design, rough construction on site, etc.) and acquired loss of maintenance (multi-load and multi-defect coupling, complex geological and hydrological conditions, and outdated management approaches, etc.), the concrete sewage pipelines in early service suffer from serious aging and deterioration. Regular detection of these pipelines is crucial to timely assess their condition, which serves as a fundamental decision-making tool for utility management to identify maintenance opportunities and develop plans. This paper provides a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art review non-destructive detection techniques for concrete sewage pipelines, including quick view (QV), closed-circuit television (CCTV), sonar, ground penetrating radar (GPR), and panoramic laser. The principles, technical characteristics, advantages, drawbacks, evaluation methods, and application scenarios of each detection method are summarized and compared to provide reliable information for the selection of detection methods. In addition, some uncommon detection techniques, including focus electrode leakage detection technology, multi-sensor technology, infrared temperature recorder method, micro-deformation method, impact echo method, infrared thermal imaging technology, spontaneous polarization method, and pipeline scanning and evaluation technology (SSET) are also introduced. Finally, the technical standards for sewage concrete pipeline detection are combed, and the gaps and challenges in sewage concrete pipeline non-destructive testing are summarized.