CCTV Video Equipment for Enhanced Culvert Inspections

Culvert inspection is a critical enabler that allows Departments of Transportation to manage a highway drainage system. Culverts deteriorate over time, like any other asset, and must be inspected regularly. To do this effectively, you need efficient equipment that can support culvert asset management.

Recommended Equipment for Culvert Inspections

Depending on conditions and requirements, we offer three options to perform an enhanced video inspection of culverts:
  • Confined space inspection drone for larger and longer culverts
  • Fully portable robotic pipe crawler for culverts from 4" and up
  • Pulling boat with a motorized camera for culverts 16" and over with water flow
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Why is CCTV Video Inspection a Preferable Choice for Culvert Condition Assessment?

When more detailed information on culvert conditions is required, inspectors can use enhanced inspection technologies. It includes multiple sensor inspections (e.g., laser ring, sonar, inclinometer), core sampling, and remote video (CCTV) inspections that can measure or digitally record conditions that are not apparent from a simple visual inspection.
The remote video inspection is officially recommended as a preferable choice for all types of culvert inspections, including design-related, post-construction, condition, and emergency / complaint-related.
Enhanced inspections are justifiable when the cost of collecting data does not exceed the value of the data.
Many states and provinces have no local contractors who can conduct multiple sensor robotic culvert inspections. To decrease the high contracted cost of a video inspection driven by an out-of-state mobilization, Departments of Transportation may realize cost savings using their own equipment instead of hiring a contractor.

Analyzing results from multiple enhanced field inspections Minnesota Department of Transportation made a few pertinent conclusions:

  • Culverts smaller than 48-inches were challenging to enter and measure. Consequently, the end-of-pipe inspection was conducted for those types of culverts.
  • Conducting an end-of-pipe inspection on a black plastic culvert was difficult. Even with high-powered lighting, gouges in the culvert wall were difficult to assess.
  • An end-of-pipe examination does not produce detailed, quantified measurements of culvert condition. It is difficult to see damage beyond 20 to 30 feet from the culvert inlet/outlet.
  • Compared to laser scan inspections, CCTV video inspections generate more cost-effective data. CCTV effectively identifies types of damage in a culvert and the damage location relative to the culvert inlet. Laser ring scanning can better quantify culvert deformations and corrosion; however, severe corrosion and deformations can be seen in the CCTV inspection video.
Need advice? Ask our technical consultants who know the subject. They will answer your questions and help scout out the best custom inspection solution for your needs.
Pole-mounted Zoom Camera for Culvert Inspection