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The Hubgrade team at VNA tested digital applications to remotely analyze the plant’s equipment.
Using augmented reality tools to inspect wastewater plants By Veronique Bourgier and Melissa Demsky
O
ver the past year, as Veolia North America (VNA) adjusted to the realities of operating in a world restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company turned to innovative technologies to provide essential water and wastewater treatment services to communities across Canada. Nowhere was this commitment to cutting-edge technology more evident than in one municipal wastewater plant, which VNA has operated and maintained for more than a decade. Concerned that pandemic restrictions would prevent evaluating the plant’s equipment for proper functioning in person, the company used augmented reality (AR) digital tools to examine critical components with precision. VNA operates and maintains this plant to treat domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater, and produce reclaimed water for agriculture, which includes table crops such as lettuce and tomatoes, park irrigation, airport greenery, and groundwater recharge. The plant uses a full spectrum of advanced safety policies and practices to ensure the highest standards are being met. The objective was to provide an www.esemag.com @ESEMAG
assessment of the current condition of plant assets. This information could be used to forecast repair and replacement costs for the coming year. The assessment would also support development of a five-year capital plan to provide asset management-based information for financial planning. Due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, VNA faced a challenge in that on-site support was not possible. The evaluation required the use of specialized tools (e.g., Fluke 810 vibration meter, SDT 270 ultrasound meter, and Flir thermal camera) to perform the condition assessment of the assets and on-site staff were not familiar with the operation of these tools. The team ultimately decided to use an AR tool to remotely conduct the evaluation of the condition of the equipment at the plant. The tools were developed under VNA’s Hubgrade digital platform. The Hubgrade team at VNA tested sophisticated digital applications to remotely analyze the plant’s equipment. This platform uses ultrasound, vibration and thermal imaging, along with inspections, to get an accurate, remote picture of which plant components were func-
tioning properly, and which required upgrades or repairs. The pilot, which also reduced expenses that would otherwise be incurred by sending experts to inspect the plant in person, has proven to be such a success that VNA plans to conduct remote assessments at many other water and wastewater plants it operates. Thanks to this technology, safety conditions can be evaluated and potential hazards identified. The AR tool proved to be a valuable, easy-to-use and efficient solution and key enabler for remote supervision and management of asset condition assessments. It gave the asset manager and technical support team the ability to interact in real time with site staff to collect needed data, using specialized maintenance tools. Thanks to Hubgrade Assist, the wastewater plant owners were advised of assets in need of immediate maintenance attention and how to develop a comprehensive plan for future investing. In the process, VNA was able to cut back on the costs and time associated with sending inspectors to the plant in person. Most importantly, in the midst of a global public health crisis, the risk of COVID exposure while maintaining services for the local community was reduced. Veronique Bourgier and Melissa Demsky are with Veolia North America. Email: veronique.bourgier@veolia.com, melissa.demsky@veolia.com December 2021 | 39
