With rising populations, denser cities, and climate change impacts, managing water and wastewater systems is becoming more complex. Sewer maintenance, once hazardous and labor-intensive, is now being transformed by digital technologies that enhance inspection and upkeep, improving safety and efficiency. Read how Madrid’s Canal de Isabel II is using drones and artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency and safety of underground inspections.
Smart Technologies Improve Utility Operations and Safety
Digital infrastructure management combines IoT sensors, GIS, AI, and robotics to enhance utility performance. These technologies enable real-time monitoring, predictive insights, and better decision-making across water and wastewater networks. Autonomous systems are advancing quickly, especially in hard-to-reach or high-risk areas, improving safety and operational efficiency.
Autonomous Systems Transform Sewer Inspections
Traditional sewer inspections have relied on manual entry or fixed cameras, often in dark, confined, and hazardous conditions. Today, autonomous vehicles and drones are improving safety and efficiency by traveling through pipes to capture high-resolution footage, reducing the need for human entry.
AI Enhances Accuracy and Efficiency in Sewer Inspections
Footage from autonomous systems is analyzed with AI tools that identify and assess defects with precision. This helps utilities prioritize maintenance, minimize emergency repairs, and extend asset lifespan. AI also brings consistency and objectivity to inspections, supporting more standardized and reliable assessments.
Autonomous Systems Improve Safety and Asset Visibility
Beyond lowering safety risks, autonomous systems make inspections more frequent and cost-effective. They help utilities develop detailed condition assessments of underground infrastructure. As adoption grows, these technologies improve visibility and control over sewer networks, supporting proactive management.
Case Study: Madrid’s Canal de Isabel II Uses Autonomous Drones and AI to Modernize Sewer Inspections
In Madrid, Spain, the regional water utility Canal de Isabel II has implemented an autonomous drone initiative to support the inspection of large underground wastewater collectors. The program is part of the utility’s broader strategy to enhance network management through digital innovation.
Madrid’s sewer system extends over 15,000 kilometers. Approximately 2,500 kilometers consist of large-diameter pipes that are technically accessible to personnel. However, inspections in these environments remain challenging due to limited visibility, slippery conditions, and harmful gases. The utility initiated a Pre-Commercial Public procurement process to improve safety and efficiency and identify a suitable drone-based solution.
The outcome is a purpose-built, self-navigating drone that can operate autonomously for distances up to 1,500 meters. The drone has built-in safety redundancies, allowing it to avoid obstacles and complete programmed routes without direct human control. The drone collects high-resolution video data from within the sewer network during each inspection.
This visual data is processed using artificial intelligence tools that automatically detect and classify structural defects, such as cracks or deformations. The system provides millimeter-level measurement accuracy, allowing for detailed condition assessments and consistent reporting.
Using drones and AI in this context has contributed to safer working conditions by reducing the need for personnel to enter confined spaces. Additionally, it has enabled more standardized, timely, and cost-effective inspections. The initiative illustrates how autonomous technologies can play a role in modernizing underground infrastructure monitoring and supporting utility asset management strategies.
The Take-Out
Digital tools like drones and AI are transforming invisible underground networks into intelligent, inspectable assets — making them safer, smarter, and ready for the future.
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