Underground Utilities Imaging and Diagnosis

Abstract The invisible and congested world of underground utilities (UU) is an indispensable mystery to the general public because their existence until problems happen. Their growth aligns with continuous development cities ever-increasing demand for energy quality life. To satisfy a variety modern requirements like emergency or routine repair, safe dig excavation, monitoring, maintenance, upscaling network, two basic tasks are always required. They mapping imaging (where?), diagnosis (how healthy?). This chapter gives review current state art these core topics, levels expected survey accuracy, looks forward future trends research (Sects. 24.1 24.2). From point view physics, large range technologies central diagnosis, having originated from electromagnetic- acoustic-based near-surface geophysical nondestructive testing methods. date, have been further extended by multi-disciplinary task forces in various disciplines (Sect. 24.3). First, it involves sending retrieving mechanical robots internal confined spaces using careful system control seamless communication electronics. Secondly, captured data signals kinds positioned, processed, future, pattern-recognized database robustly trace location diagnose conditions any particular type utilities. Thirdly, such types defects can be regarded as learning process through repeated validation laboratory, simulation, ground-truthing field. concluded briefly introducing human-factor psychological cognitive biases, which most cases neglected diagnostic work 24.4). In short, very challenging nature utility diagnostics gradually evolving traditional visual inspection new era surveying engineering professions even towards part human–machine interaction.