PipeAId - Athens Utilities Water Services
Athens Utilities Water Services, a division of The City of Athens Utilities in Alabama, manages a sanitary collection system spanning over 1 million feet of sewer lines, ranging in size from 4 inches to 36 inches. Each year, the City inspects approximately 10% of this system using in-house crews. Traditionally, these inspections generated static PDF reports, limiting the ability to efficiently analyze and utilize the data. Seeking a more streamlined and insightful approach, the City explored AI-driven solutions to enhance inspection efficiency and data usability.
Transforming Sewer Inspections with AI
In early 2024, Athens Utilities Water Services partnered with PipeAId for a proof of concept, analyzing 20,000 feet of existing sewer inspection footage. PipeAId’s AI-powered solution seamlessly coded defects, improved accuracy, and integrated results into the City’s GIS system, creating a dynamic Digital Twin of their sewer infrastructure. The City quickly recognized the benefits: no annual fees, no additional capital investment beyond the per-foot coding cost, and a significantly enhanced workflow. As a result, Athens Utilities Water Services expanded the partnership with a one-year contract to process approximately 100,000 feet of sewer inspection data.