Towards a Consistent Classification System for Condition Assessment of Drainage Pipes

Municipal drainage systems consist of sewer and stormwater pipes. These systems represent a huge investment of public money and are thus important to monitor, model, and manage to ensure optimal operation and service life. Since pipe deterioration is driven by a finite number of root causes and proc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zahra Tizmaghz, Jakobus E. van Zyl, Theunis F.P. Henning
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/69/1/53
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Summary:Municipal drainage systems consist of sewer and stormwater pipes. These systems represent a huge investment of public money and are thus important to monitor, model, and manage to ensure optimal operation and service life. Since pipe deterioration is driven by a finite number of root causes and processes, it should be possible to define a uniform classification system that can be applied internationally for different objectives, such as deterioration modelling and asset management. A literature review revealed that no uniform classification system currently exists and that a range of different definitions and criteria are used. This paper proposes a uniform classification system for drainage pipes consisting of three top-level categories (failures, defects, and factors) with subcategories based on functional or temporal considerations. Each category is unambiguously defined, and a classification flow diagram is presented. Adopting a uniform classification system will allow future research to be interpreted more consistently and allow the results of different studies to be compared rationally.
ISSN:2673-4591