USE CASES FOR DIGITAL METHODS IN PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE OF SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE

Sewer infrastructure is vital for flood prevention, environmental protection, and public health.However, sewer systems are prone to deterioration, and traditional maintenance approaches remain largely manual, reactive, and based on inconsistent data, resulting in inefficiencies.Despite the long duration and importance of the operational phase, clear use cases for digital methods in sewer management remain scarce.This research addresses this issue by providing different use cases for digital methods, i.e.Building Information Modelling (BIM), in the operational phase of sewer infrastructure, and the requirements for its implementation in sewer maintenance.Following a literature review from previous research about the current state of digitalization and automation in proactive sewer maintenance, 20 guided expert interviews are conducted exploring the opportunities and challenges associated with digital methods and automation.These interviews resulted in potential use cases for optimizing proactive maintenance, which were subsequently validated during an expert workshop.Key findings highlight varying levels of familiarity among stakeholders with digital tools.While AI is seen as crucial for future operations, robotics in sewer inspections remain controversial due to outdated network plans, making improved digital models with georeferencing essential.From the research results, specific use cases for the operational phase of sewer infrastructure are developed, addressing several challenges and offering a foundation for improved decision-making and efficiency in sewer maintenance.