Georeferencing a sewer line in Copenhagen with a drone
In this case study, we explore how we used a drone that can fly down sewer pipes to georeference them.
Key points from the case:
Case background
We were contacted by the customer as we have previously worked on various projects together where they needed to know where either a pipe or a structure was located underground.
Normally, it is very difficult to know the exact location of structures and sewer pipes as they can be several hundred years old and there is no data on their location.
Since the customer here in Copenhagen needed to build a new structure on a large sewer line, they contacted us again. They wanted to know where the pipe moved underground between two wells at a distance of 80 meters.
Our solution with drone, LiDAR and GPS coordinator
We solved the task efficiently by combining advanced technology and precise measurement methods:
- Measuring GPS coordinates: We placed crosses at the bottom of the two selected wells and measured the GPS coordinates using a coordinate rod.
- Drone scan: We flew our drone, equipped with a 4K camera and LiDAR scanner, through the pipeline. The drone scanned both the crosses and the structure of the wire.
- Data linking: The collected GPS coordinates and 3D LiDAR data were linked in software such as Pointview, Pix4D or FaroConnect to create an accurate 3D model.
The result of georeferencing the sewer line
We used advanced technology to georeference the sewer line underground to help our client get precise information about its location.
By measuring the GPS coordinates of the intersections at the bottom of the two wells and combining these with 3D LiDAR scans from the drone equipment, we were able to create an accurate georeferenced model of the sewer line’s path.
This allowed the client to get a clear and reliable picture of the exact location of the pipe over a distance of 80 meters, which was crucial for their construction plans.
The model was linked in software such as Pointview, Pix4D or FaroConnect to create a visualization of the line in real-world coordinates. This provided the customer with a useful and accurate tool for further planning of the new structure.
