WinCan is always looking for ways to integrate new technology into its software, including the use of artificial intelligence for automatic defect recognition and classification.

WinCan’s new AI toolkit, Sewermatics, helps improve operator accuracy, automatically detects defects in video inspections, assigns defect codes, and auto-populates data like size, position and water level in 30 languages.

Gathering more data in less time

AI in the world of sewer management aims to achieve two main goals: increase productivity and provide more accurate insight into the condition of wastewater infrastructure. AI technology can inspect and classify defects much faster than the human eye or traditional software, improving operator efficiency. And the more information AI can gather, the more data and insight can be gained from inspections.

"Our primary goal with Sewermatics is to assist sewer professionals in the field and in the office," says Mike Russin, WinCan's General Manager, North America. "For an unassisted inspection, accuracy can range from 50% to 100% depending on city requirements, contractor quality and the inspection equipment used. Sewermatics, with its own accuracy of approximately 85%, has the potential to dramatically raise the lower end of this range, helping these sewer professionals deliver results more efficiently and with greater precision."

To prepare for the release of this technology, Sewermatics will be available across WinCan’s full lineup of inspection reporting and asset management solutions, including WinCan VX, WinCan Embedded and WinCan Web.

Mode options

Sewermatics is available in three different modes: Assist Mode, Scan Mode and Web Mode.

Assist Mode can be used in the field during live inspections or in the office while reviewing footage. In this mode, potential defects are highlighted and a defect code is recommended according to the standard chosen, whether PACP, WRc, ISYBAU or another. Once confirmed by a human, an observation is automatically created and various parameters like clock position, crack length and water level are prefilled.

In Scan Mode, the software processes inspection footage at an expedited speed, detecting defects and generating observation records as needed.

Similarly, in Web Mode, inspection video is processed and observation records are generated, but the data and reports are automatically uploaded and stored in the cloud, in WinCan Web.

Batch video processing

Sewermatics can also process collections of archival video and create individual reports for each section of the pipe. For the entire collection of videos, the software conducts a systemwide analysis that pinpoints critical risks and organizes them in a list by priority, including cross bores, collapses, holes and offsets. That list can then be used by departments to develop a comprehensive maintenance plan to mitigate them.

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