Sewer-Seer: Robotic Computer Vision System for Sewer Pipe Diagnosis Using Artificial Intelligence for the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department of the Intercultural GAD of the Cañar Canton

The Sewer-Seer project aims to develop a computer vision system using artificial intelligence for diagnosing sewage pipes in Cañar, Ecuador. It involves creating a robotic system to inspect pipes, detect structural issues, leaks, and obstructions. The project includes building a database of pipe images, training diagnostic models, designing hardware for the robot, and developing software for real-time analysis. The goal is to improve the efficiency and safety of sewage system maintenance, reducing risks for workers and environmental impact. Expected outcomes include indexed scientific articles, prototypes, and enhanced technological solutions for sustainable development.

Goals:
Establish a knowledge base of obstructions and damages recognized in the sewage network managed by the Intercultural GAD of the Cañar Canton for the creation of diagnostic models based on data.
Improve the diagnosis of the pipe network of the Intercultural GAD of the Cañar Canton through a data-based model trained and evaluated with images from the simulated pipe environment for sewage diagnosis.
Reduce exposure to hostile environments for inspection personnel of the drinking water and sewage department by designing the hardware (mechanical, electrical, and electronic) that will form the computer vision mechanism to meet the physical, processing, and compatibility requirements with the mobile robot.
Reduce the diagnosis time of the pipe network of the Intercultural GAD of the Cañar Canton through a software prototype for real-time inspection of the sewage system.
Integrate the diagnostic system (hardware and software) customized to the needs of the Intercultural GAD of the Cañar Canton for its evaluation in the simulated environment of sewage pipes under controlled conditions.
Develop detailed technical manuals that include operation, preventive and corrective maintenance procedures, and specific problem-solving for the correct use of the technology.
Provide training to the technical staff of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department of the Intercultural GAD of the Cañar Canton to ensure complete mastery in the operation and maintenance of the Sewer-Seer technology proposed for the detection of failures in the sewage network.
Offer technical support and updates of the technology developed for future projects in continuous improvement of the Sewer-Seer Software.
Promote the visibility of the Cañar canton as a benchmark in innovation with a technological tool for maintenance tasks in sewage networks, presenting the results of the research and technological advances in relevant scientific conferences at the national and international level.
Establish effective links between the academic community and municipal governments, involving stakeholders, associations, and citizens in the implementation and dissemination of the technology results, thus creating a sustainable technological ecosystem that promotes the adoption and responsible use of inspection and diagnostic technology in sewage networks.
Promote the dissemination of project results through the publication of high-impact technical-scientific and experimental content to the scientific community.

Research lines:
Condition Monitoring