The focus group is completed. The focus group Pipelined/Grids worked on finding methods for scanning water and district heating pipes and finding weaknesses in these without having to dig them up. The focus was developing on research methods that can be used while the pipe networks are operating.
Within the framework of Urban Magma, Sydvatten and Kraftringen in 2013 initiated a collaboration on water and district heating networks to test new technology for assessing materials, improving documentation of damage and data handling, and implementing big data and sensor technology. The goal was to facilitate the work of status assessment to allow water utilities to distinguish between pipes in good condition from those in need of repairs.
In order to identify promising technology, a literature review of existing technologies was conducted. The methods that were interesting were those that could provide information about the pipe material and condition of the network without having to dig up pipes or stop operation. Through the study, we have gained an overview of what exists today and learned about the strengths, weaknesses and potential of development methods. Read the report on what we came across: Our valuable wire mesh.
Work continued from the focus group
New wiring network project
A result of the work in Urban Magma and the focus group Pipeline Networks is an industry-wide project “Pipestatus Project”, which will develop new methods for assessing the RE and district heating network’s renovation needs. The project is co-financed by Vinnova and operates outside of Urban Magma, but engages both Urban Magma partners and other partners and has participants from several water and district heating companies, technology suppliers and universities.
Read more about the Pipestatus project on the Swedish Water Research website .