• The GEOSPATIAL Smart Probe™ is an autonomous, gyroscopic-based Pipeline Mapping System designed to accurately determine the XYZ location of utility pipes (underground).
• Due to the interchangeable wheel units, the standard system is capable of mapping pipes with Internal Diameters (IDs) of 1.5" (38 mm) to 60" (1500 mm).
• With certain adaptations, diameters as small as 2" and up to 48" are possible.

While the GEOSPATIAL Smart Probe™ travels through a pipeline section, all logging data is stored inside the system.

• There is no tethering of a power or data cable (such as required for robotic camera).
• The system does not need to be traced aboveground, as is required with so-called "beacon" systems (e.g., see Radio Detection). In other words, it is not necessary to know where the system is as it moves from A to B, the system will calculate afterwards where the GEOSPATIAL Smart Probe™ has been.

As a result, the GEOSPATIAL Smart Probe™ can move through pipes:

• Relatively quickly (up to 6 ft./sec.)
• Without the need to close off streets other than at access points
• To any depth
• To any length

The simple answer is: Any type of pipe with ID 1.5" (38 mm) and up, including any pipelines made from HDPE, steel, concrete, or PVC. The GEOSPATIAL Smart Probe™ is appropriate for all types of pipe utilization including, but not limited to, water pipelines, gravity sewers, pressure sewers, natural gas pipelines, petroleum pipelines, fiber optics and telecommunication conduits, electrical conduits, industrial pipelines, irrigation pipelines and hazardous waste pipelines. In addition, our mapping technologies can be custom designed into specialty carrier casings to fit just about any unique pipeline mapping situation imaginable.

The GEOSPATIAL Smart Probe™ is a scalable Pipeline Mapping System and therefore is capable of working within a variable range of bending radii. Segmented GEOSPATIAL Smart Probes™ are available which will negotiate bends as sharp as 90 degrees.

The bending radius is dependent on the relationship between the inner diameter of the pipe (D), the outer diameter of the probe housing (d) and the wheelbase of the probe (L).

As the inner diameter D increases, the wheelbase L will be more or less constant so the bending radius will decrease as shown in the chart below.



Once D exceeds 300mm, the minimum bending radius required drops below 1 meter, at D = 650mm, the bending radius approaches 1D.

The most common way to move the GEOSPATIAL Smart Probe™ from A to B is by means of pulling wire. A manual or powered winch is utilized. The Smart Probe™ can also be propelled through the pipeline with compressed air, water or the liquid product within the pipeline. Specialized "High Pressure" Smart Probes™ are being developed and will be available soon for the Oil and Gas distribution industry.

No. Our current Smart Probes™ can be used in pressure lines such as water lines and force mains with operating pressures up to 95 psi. A new high-pressure (up yo 3500 psi) Smart Probe™ is being developed and will be available soon.

Accurate results can be obtained with one known entry point.

• Acquire necessary (local) permits
• Implement safety and traffic control requirements
• Ensure entry and exit points are easily accessible
• Introduce a pulling wire into the pipe
• Obtain entry and exit point coordinates

1. The correct wheel-set is selected to fit the pipe ID.


2. The GEOSPATIAL Smart Probe™ is switched into logging mode.
3. The system is connected to the pulling cord (safety cord is connected to the rear of the system).
4. The system is placed into the pipe's entry point and the rear is aligned with the beginning of the pipe (see picture).
5. A 30-second "stable period" is observed.
6. The system is pulled through the pipe to the end point until the front reaches the end of the pipe (see picture).
7. A 30-second "stable period" is observed.
8. The system is taken out of the pipe and the data is either uploaded to the PC or the system is turned around for a return run (back to Step 3).

Two standard output formats are programmed:
1. Comma Separated Value (.csv). This format is the most open format available and can be seamlessly loaded into Excel, ArcView and several other applications.
2. Script Format (.scr). This is the default format for AutoCAD, allowing instant upload into AutoCAD.

In addition, the software has a pre-programmed Profile View and all Graphics viewed during processing can be saved for later review.

There is no definitive run length.

It is, however, advisable to have available intermediate coordinates for very long runs (similar to the requirements of intelligent pigging applications).

A tolerance in X, Y (plan view) of 0.25% of distance between known waypoints can be observed and 0.10% on the Z (or depth). (For example, the tolerance for a 400 ft. run is 12 inches, for a 2000 ft. run it is 5 ft., etc.) Most pipelines can be mapped with a high degree of accuracy by the establishing reference points with known geographic coordinates and GPS data at the start and end of the run, and on very long runs at known intervals between the two.

Known waypoint information and multiple runs from A to B and B to A may improve the results following normal statistical reasoning.

Digital data is time proof. In the old days, networks were mapped on paper and the location was referred to landmarks... many of which no longer exist. In addition, paper maps are two-dimensional only.

A beacon system contains a battery operated beacon that is pulled or pushed through the pipe. The beacon emits a continuous signal that can then be picked up aboveground by a receiver. The person holding the receiver marks spots on the tarmac at certain intervals that are then mapped by a surveyor who then sends them to the drawing room for conversion into a GIS platform.

These systems are limited to the depth they can map and are very susceptible to electromagnetic interference.

Although useful for short shallow mappings away from electrical cables, walk-over systems are useful but they do not compare to the accuracy and range of the GEOSPATIAL Smart Probe™.

Camera robots are primarily designed to look at something, not to map. Although they sometimes have an inclinometer to measure the pitch angle of pipes, the fact that they run over the bottom of pipes that are usually full of sediment, you never know for sure what the robot is measuring.

The combination of the GEOSPATIAL Smart Probe™ and a robotic camera in sewer environments is very powerful, particularly in cases where pipes are being rehabilitated. Operational efficiency can be significantly increased by first mapping the sections (which goes 6 times as fast as with a robot) and only sending the robot into those sections that show severe deformation.

Furthermore, robots are tethered so their operational range is significantly limited.

For contractors:

• The operational efficiency increases
• The risk of damage may be reduced
• Hand-over procedures can be faster and easier

For network operators/owners/engineering firms:

• Network data is better
• Multiple measurements over time will provide dynamic data of the pipeline (a movie rather than a picture)
• Dynamic data will allow operators to help define dynamic maintenance programs (rather than static maintenance programs that are typical today), thus limiting the risk of pipeline failures creating maintenance efficiencies