Michigan county is uses drones and AI to keep wastewater infrastructure running smoothly

Infrastructure Problem & Solution - Macomb County experienced a massive sinkhole in 2016 due to a burst sewer line, costing $75 million to fix [1][2] - The county is now using drones and floating buoys (Gooflow) equipped with 4K video and sensors to inspect sewer systems [3][5] - The drone, ACOX from Flybotics, is equipped with sensors to detect hazardous gases like carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide [3][4] Efficiency & Cost Savings - The drone can inspect almost 1,000 feet (approximately 305 meters) of underground pipes in one flight [4] - Sewer AI system analyzes footage from drones and buoys, providing results in about 24 hours, significantly faster than previous methods [6] - Macomb County anticipates inspection costs to decrease from nearly $1 million in 2023 to $46,000 using the new technology, a 954% reduction [6][7] Risk Mitigation - The technology aims to prevent catastrophic infrastructure failures by identifying issues like tree roots, cracks, and water intrusion in pipes [5][7] - Using drones reduces the need for human entry into potentially dangerous environments [4]