Potential application of an automatic sewer monitoring system based on sensors

Due to the global trend towards increased efficiency and environmental friendliness in production, along with the aim to create the safest possible conditions, innovative technologies are being developed and applied more intensively. Today, sewer systems face several challenges such as flooding in manholes, gas accumulation, theft of manhole covers, and siltation in manholes and pipelines. Due to the current circumstances, there is a pressing demand for the enhancement of sewer systems. This study focuses on the development of an early warning system comprising a multifunctional device. The system provides a complete picture of the condition of the contents of manholes and their covers in city sewers or private septic tanks. The test results demonstrate the integration of the module for the automatic detection of manhole openings, the module for the detection of critical liquid levels, and the module for the detection of critical siltation levels. The effective solutions used in this system include the optical infrared sensor TOF400F, the LiDar sensor for distance measurement with TF-Luna, and the infrared sensor YL-63, which is sealed in a cylindrical plastic body with a diameter of 30mm. The distance between the sensor and the manhole should not exceed 30 cm for the first module, while the second module is effective up to a depth of 5 m. Deployment of this system has both social and economic benefits, including increased safety for people, optimization of physical inspection costs for each well, and logistics for service organizations.