MAPPING THE UNDERWORLD: MULTI-SENSOR DEVICE CREATION, ASSESSMENT, PROTOCOLS
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Faculty of Engineering & the Environment
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
- University of Southampton (Lead Research Organisation)
- Underground Imaging Technologies (Collaboration)
- J K Guest Group (Collaboration)
- Site Vision Surveys (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- TBE Group (Project Partner)
- Ingegneria dei Sistemi (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- URS Corporation (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- BT Group (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Utsi Electronics (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- National Underground Assets Group (Project Partner)
- Ordnance Survey (Project Partner)
- Halma Water Management (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- WRc (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Sensors and Instrumentation KTN (Project Partner)
- Pipehawk (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- National Grid (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Witten Technologies INC (Project Partner)
- UK Water Industry Research (Project Partner)
- Society of British Water and Wastewater Industries (Project Partner)
- Kirklees Council (Project Partner)
- EUROGPR (Project Partner)
- Pipeline Industries Guild (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Clancy Docwra (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Louisiana Tech University (Project Partner)
- National One Call (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Northumbrian Water Group plc (Project Partner)
- Kelda Group (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Megger (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- CSIRO Land and Water (Project Partner)
- KTN for Resource Efficiency (Project Partner)
- Watershed Associates (Project Partner)
- E-on Central Networks (Project Partner)
- Ewan Associates Ltd (Project Partner)
- Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (Project Partner)
- Quetra Limited (Project Partner)
- Osys Technology (Project Partner)
- Future Amtec (Project Partner)
Publications
ACD Royal (Author)
(2010)
Mapping the Underworld Phase II - Latest Developments
ACD Royal (Author)
(2010)
Mapping the Underworld meets Subsurface Utility Engineering
in GEO Connexion UK
ACD Royal (Author)
(2010)
Mapping the Underworld: Location, Mapping and Positioning without Excavation
B Zaghari (Author)
(2012)
Mapping the Underworld
BM Papandreou (Author)
(2009)
The Detection of Shallow Buried Objects Using Seiesmic Wave Reflections
CDF Roger (Author)
(2008)
Mapping the Underworld: locating buried assets without excavation
in Trenchless international
Goddard K
(2012)
Detection and location of underground cables using magnetic field measurements
in Measurement Science and Technology
Hao T
(2012)
Condition assessment of the buried utility service infrastructure
in Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology
JM Muggleton (Author)
(2006)
The Use of Acoustic Methods to Detect and Locate Underground Piping Systems
JM Muggleton (Author)
(2012)
The Detection of Buried Pipes Using a Shear Wave Technique
JM Muggleton (Author)
(2010)
An Assessment of Laser Vibrometry for the Measurement of Ground Vibration
JM Muggleton (Author)
(2009)
Vibration Radiation from Buried Plastic Water Pipes: An Experimental Investigation at the Ground Surface
Muggleton J
(2014)
A shear wave ground surface vibration technique for the detection of buried pipes
in Journal of Applied Geophysics
Muggleton J
(2014)
Point vibration measurements for the detection of shallow-buried objects
in Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology
Muggleton J
(2013)
'Mapping the Underworld': recent developments in vibro-acoustic techniques to locate buried infrastructure
in Géotechnique Letters
Muggleton J
(2008)
The design and instrumentation of an experimental rig to investigate acoustic methods for the detection and location of underground piping systems
in Applied Acoustics
Muggleton J
(2011)
Determining the location of buried plastic water pipes from measurements of ground surface vibration
in Journal of Applied Geophysics
P Wang (Author)
(2011)
Electromagnetic Field Application to Underground Power Cable Detection
P Wang (Author)
(2011)
Detection and Location of Underground Power Cable using Magnetic Field Technologies
PR Atkins (Author)
(2008)
Minimising Street Works Disruption: Mapping the Underworld Sensor Technologies, Review and Progress
Rogers C
(2012)
Condition assessment of the surface and buried infrastructure - A proposal for integration
in Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology
Royal A
(2011)
Site Assessment of Multiple-Sensor Approaches for Buried Utility Detection
in International Journal of Geophysics
Royal A
(2010)
Briefing: stakeholder perspectives of buried utility mapping
in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Municipal Engineer
SG Swingler (Author)
(2011)
Flangeless Open-Ended Coaxial Probes with Curved Surfaces
| Description | Vibro-acoustics, or structural acoustics, is the study of mechanical waves in structures and how they interact with and radiate into adjacent fluids and media. In the context of MTU, the structures of interest are generally buried pipes (water, oil, gas), and the adjacent fluids/media are the fluid contained within the pipes and the ground/soil/fluid in which they are buried or immersed. The principle behind all of the vibro-acoustic techniques that have been explored in MTU is that when one part of the pipe/soil structure is mechanically excited in a controlled manner, waves will propagate away from the excitation point, interact with the surrounding structure or fluid and be subsequently measurable at some remote location(s) on the ground surface. By analysing the nature of the measured response(s) at the surface, the location of the buried pipe(s) can then be inferred. Three complementary vibro-acoustic techniques for locating buried services have been developed in MTU: (a) Vibration excitation applied directly on a pipe which has been found to be very successful for locating both plastic and metal water pipes, laid under grass and under tarmac; (b) Vibration excitation applied at the ground surface (shear wave method) which is system that for the first time does not need to have access to the pipe; (c) Vibration excitation applied at the ground surface (point measurement method) which has been used successfully to detect a number of shallow-buried services. The measurement of magnetic fields can be realised through the use of search coils and in the context of MTU this method has been used to detect magnetic fields generated by buried electrical conductors such as power cables. A system has been developed based on an array of coils that provide simultaneous measurement data of the magnetic field. This data is then analysed and used to estimate the location of the buried cable in terms of lateral position and depth. |
| Exploitation Route | The vibro-acoustic techniques have been designed and tested so that their application to a non-academic context is straightforward. These techniques have direct application to the location of sewerage, gas, water and other utility distribution pipes. This allows the number of unnecessary holes that are cut into the UK road network (about 4 million each year) to be minimised, thereby saving millions of pounds in costs and the inconvenience and danger to the public. The power cable location system is currently being used in collaboration with Prysmian Cables and Systems Ltd. to verify its performance in accurately mapping the location of an energised 275 kV cable circuit. Again this is with a view to minimise potential disruption of any remedial works that may be required on the buried cable. The project has seen the involvement of many academic and industrial partners who have been kept regularly informed thanks to annual meetings and the participation to national and international conferences. This project is also part of a wider program which was led by the University of Birmingham. The University of Birmingham is leading the consultation process with potential companies (among which Caterpillar) to explore the possibility of exploitation. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Construction,Energy,Environment |
| URL | http://www.mappingtheunderworld.ac.uk |
| Description | Mapping the Underworld began with the ambitious aim of developing a means to detect and map the UK's ever-evolving infrastructure of underground pipes and cables. Thanks to the University of Southampton's contribution to a multi-university research effort, in addition to strong collaborations with industry, the project has achieved this and much more. It has been a catalyst for the development of a new British Standard, influenced government policy on streetworks, guided industry practice in the UK and overseas, given rise to a national Centre of Excellence and accredited vocational training centre, and raised public awareness of the problems associated with buried infrastructure. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Construction,Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | ASSESSING THE UNDERWORLD - AN INTEGRATED PERFORMANCE MODEL OF CITY INFRASTRUCTURES |
| Amount | £5,782,838 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/K021699/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2013 |
| End | 05/2017 |
| Description | Collaboration with JK Guest Group |
| Organisation | J K Guest Group |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The partnership with world-leading civil engineers JK Guest Group was founded in 2009 and has ultimately led to the development of a world-class testing arena, the Mapping the Underworld Centre of Excellence. JK Guest committed £2 million to build the facility to a detailed specification from core members of the MTU team, including Muggleton. The Centre is Europe's first dedicated training facility for utility mapping, surveying and excavation, and the only utility mapping training provider in Europe accredited for NVQ qualifications, with 15 modules on offer. The centre is accredited by the Construction Industry Training Board and qualifications are recognised on the Construction Skills Certification Scheme card. The partnership has ultimately led to the development of a world-class testing arena, the Mapping the Underworld Centre of Excellence. JK Guest committed £2 million to build the facility to a detailed specification from core members of the MTU team. The Centre is Europe's first dedicated training facility for utility mapping, surveying and excavation, and the only utility mapping training provider in Europe accredited for NVQ qualifications. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Consultant for Underground Imaging Technologies |
| Organisation | Underground Imaging Technologies |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Underground Imaging Technologies invited Muggleton to act as a consultant, advising on seismic issues |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Title | Underground Object Detection Patent |
| Description | Rayleigh wave exciter - a ground excitation device to preferentially excite Rayleigh (or surface) waves in a directable beam. |
| IP Reference | GB1002754.8 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Not yet available |
| Description | Amendment to the Charges for Unreasonably Prolonged Occupation of the Highway |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In 2011 the core MTU team including Muggleton were invited by UK government representative Dr Susan Juned to comment on the proposed Amendment to the Charges for Unreasonably Prolonged Occupation of the Highway 2012. Not yet available |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Mapping the Underworld |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the work done during the project to establish ground of possible future collaboration. None |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Mapping the Underworld |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The MTU team has developed a brochure that comprehensively covers the life of the project and development of the sensors from their embryonic state to their current ground breaking competition. Not available |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Mapping the Underworld Video |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The team produced a short animated video, which has been viewed more than 700 times on YouTube. Video has been viewed more than 700 times on YouTube |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |