A vision-based tool for the control of hydraulic structures in sewer systems
Event details
| Date | 09.11.2009 |
| Hour | 16:15 |
| Speaker | Dr Luca Rossi, ECOL-EPFL |
| Location |
GR B3 30
|
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
... "or why project partners thrown in Lausanne's sewer system no longer swims in Vidy Bay".
During rain events, the total amount of the wastewater/storm-water mixture cannot be treated in the wastewater treatment plant, and the overflowed water goes directly into the environment (lakes, rivers, streams). This untreated water is recognized as an important source of pollution. For this reason, the monitoring of the water flow and the water level is of crucial environmental importance. However, the harsh and hostile environment inside sewers systems, such as constant humidity, solid debris or hydraulic turbulences, make traditional water monitoring systems unpractical.
The HydroPix system proposes a novel camera based approach to the automatic monitoring of sewers, targeted at wastewater system managers. The developments were conducted in collaboration with an industrial partner (Etrinex SA), the Biomedical Imaging Laboratory (LIB) and the school communication systems at EPFL.
The vision system performs water level and flow velocity measurements without any contact with the water. In situ tests in various sewers configurations have shown the ability of the HydroPix to perform accurate monitoring of hydraulic structures. Visual information provides a better understanding of the flow behavior in combined sewer overflows and helps decision makers in defining future investments.
This talk will present an overview of the project in the context of Lausanne's sewer system, and describe its main hardware and software challenges. It will also make a case for the benefits to be drawn from cross-disciplinary approaches.
Links
Practical information
- General public
- Free