Turning utility infrastructure into 3D intelligence

Over the last several years, a major US pharmaceutical company has undertaken the replacement of their underground fire main supply system on one of their campuses due to recurring pipe breaks and leaks in aging infrastructure, creating risks across the campus. Of the approximately 14 miles of campus fire main piping, more than seven miles have been identified as reaching the end of their service life and requiring replacement. Execution is complicated by decades of utility additions and upgrades that have created a congested subsurface environment, compounded by incomplete or outdated drawings. These conditions require precise excavation and careful coordination to replace deteriorated piping while avoiding damage to adjacent utilities and disruption to campus operations.

To address the uncertainty in existing utility records, we recommended engaging our digitalization team to develop a 3D map documenting utilities encountered during fire main excavations. This innovative approach would provide a more reliable basis for coordinating subsequent work and informing future infrastructure planning.

Using handheld mobile LiDAR scanning, precision GPS control, and 360-degree panoramic imagery, our experts document any open excavation at the site before it is backfilled. The resulting point-cloud data captures precise locations for the exposed subsurface utilities, providing a spatial record of the installed fire main and other visible features. Capturing the conditions while exposed reduces reliance on memory and limits the need to rediscover the same information during future work.

We then process scanned data into 3D models and extract pipe positions, sizes, and elevations for utility CAD deliverables that can be used as future projects arise. Ramboll uses the 360-degree imagery to supplement the models with a visual record of subsurface conditions. Finally, the 3D models are integrated with 2D CAD layers in an interactive geospatial viewer that allows users to examine utility relationships in both 2D and 3D.

This integrated workflow supports the client’s future planning and excavation coordination, and sets the basis for confident decision-making and a stronger foundation for managing utility information over time.