Wastewater Lift Stations Concrete Condition Assessment Utilizing LiDAR Measurements and Digital 3D Images

The condition assessment of wastewater conveyance facilities is critical to ensuring their durability and functionality. Among wastewater conveyance structures, lift stations' wet wells are one of the most vulnerable and deteriorated structures due to the existence of high-concentration hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. To determine the extent of deterioration and provide repair plans for these critical structures, traditionally trained personnel are descended into the wet well, and this procedure requires dewatering the well, cleaning the walls, ventilating the H2S gas, and utilizing confined space entry protocols. This method involves significant safety risks to personnel. In this study, the feasibility of using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology and digital 3D imaging to conduct the condition assessment of concrete wet well structures is investigated. The goal of this research is to accurately capture the structural condition of concrete surfaces, identify defects, such as cracks, spalling, and corrosion, and assess the overall integrity of the concrete structure by utilizing these techniques. The outcome of this research illustrates how new technologies can increase precision, reduce human error, and decrease health and safety risks. These methods offer significant advancements over traditional approaches and can be used for many similar applications.