Safe drinking water is one of the primary factors in ensuring a population’s health. In the traditional process of inspection, divers examine the water. With the improvement in technology, a system called Remote Operating Vehicle has made its debut in the water inspection scene.
ROV is an automated tethered device. We use ROVs for observing, inspecting, surveying, constructing, or performing other tasks underwater. An ROV is remotely controlled and programmed to travel in a fixed route using the information on specific areas of concern. It can collect visual data, perform and measure plate thickness in difficult-to-reach areas.
ROVs have the potential to develop the conventional approaches taken to the water tank examinations. Given below are the ways in which using ROV is a water inspecting technique:
1. ROVs Require Very Few Operators
In the conventional way of water inspection, divers are required. But the availability of efficiency is rare. In the process, the divers are also at risk of accidents. So, hiring a group of divers becomes a costly affair.
ROVs need only a few people for their use. A very less number of operators are required for its remote controlling. Therefore, the cost of operation reduces to a great extent.
2. Tanks Do Not Require Discharging or Refilling to Perform ROV Inspections
In the old system of water inspection, it needs to discharge the whole water before the procedure of inspection starts. Later, we need to refill the tank after the process is over. Hence, this leads to a waste of fuel energy. It also leads to wastage of a bulk quantity of water. During the era of water scarcity, practicing such systems is harmful to society.
The ROV gets a lead here because it does not require any sort of discharge and refill of water. This process of water inspection is hence a very water-efficient one.
3. Retaining Visual Data Provided by ROVs Helps in Planning Future Projects Like Repair Works of Tanks
The usual process of water inspection has no scope of storing any visual data. Hence, it does not retain any past information about the inspection. In case of any remedial process, one has to redo the inspection in order to plan the proceedings.
One of the greatest advantages of the ROV is that it can amass the visual data, which can be stored. In case of any remedial work in the future, these visual data prove to be a great reference point to start from. This leads to better planning of the corrective job. Therefore, the ROVs prove to be a great time saver and also cost-efficient.
4.The Usage of ROV Eliminates the Risks Related to Restricted Space Entry, which Need Planning, Permits and Paperwork
Water inspection needs human participation which makes it very risky. The entry of workers inside confined spaces makes them prone to accidents. Moreover, the preceding paperwork, rigorous planning, and permit make it a cumbersome job to pursue.
On the other hand, the use of ROVs does not involve any paperwork or permits. It surely is a much safer option.
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5. ROV Footage Offers in Depth Views Necessary to Examine a Tank’s Inner Condition
ROVs are very efficient and can do the tasks that human beings are unable to, effectively. Humans fail to provide close-up views of the tank. Whereas the visual data that ROVs collect is very detailed. Therefore, we can do the assessment of the state of the interior parts in a better manner.
6. ROVs Have Superior Features and Accessories that can Gather Samples and Measure the Wall’s Breadth
Technology has always made Man advance. It’s the same in the case of ROVs. The highly developed parts of ROVs are capable of gathering samples from the internal parts of the tank and also measure the thickness of the wall along with other details.
7. ROVs Take Very Little Time to Operate
When it comes to time efficiency, ROVs, without a doubt, steal the show. In the conventional method of inspection, we have to take the tanks out of service for a fairly long period to complete the task. Moreover, the issue of permits, completion of paperwork, and employment of suitable workers take time.
But ROVs can finish the work in a comparatively short time interval. This is because the time of refilling and discharging water is curbed. ROVs, with everything in control, take a maximum of 12 hours to put the tanks in service and restart the water supply.
That’s why the problems that the people face regarding water supply also become comparatively less. The usage of ROVs does not require the employment of divers or any legal permit. This also makes the process shorter and simpler. Furthermore, because of automation, the ROVs prove to be a seamless and fast way of inspecting water tanks.
Conclusion
The motive of technology is to make people’s life easy and effortless. And ROVs stand true to this motive. Needless to say, the number of advantages ROVs comes with makes it a better alternative while considering a cost-effective, less risky and timely inspection of water.
