Low Cost Full-field Tool for In-Ditch Deformation Measurement

Mechanical damage (typically from third party excavations) is the most frequent cause of leaks and ruptures in pipelines. Surface corrosion is also a threat to pipeline integrity. Currently used techniques for assessing damage by means of in-line inspectin and in-ditch tools are not accurate enough for reliable determination of fitness for service. In this project Intelligent Optical Systems will determine the feasibility of implementing a novel surface-profiling tool for mechanical damage evaluation based on the real-time processing of a single digital image. This inexpensive, full-field system images the fullshape of the damaged region with high accuracy, and overcomes current limitations in the assessment process. In Phase I, we will demonstrate the capability to produce surface profiles with the required spatial and depth resolution. Test samples will be provided using in-kind funding from PRCI. We willperform measurements on these samples, and compare this data with released data obtained with more complex laser-based tools.