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Victoria International Airport (YYJ) has officially unveiled its Master Plan - but behind the scenes, a crucial element is also gaining attention: the integration of advanced pipe crawler technology to aid in detailed infrastructure mapping.
Provided by Pipe Trekker and operated by the airport’s team, the A-200 Pipe Crawler enabled the airport to examine sections of the stormwater system that had not been accessed for many years.
The objective: to perform a comprehensive inspection of the airport’s underground infrastructure in alignment with the goals of the Master Plan.
Aging Stormwater Systems from a Wartime Past
Constructed in 1939, Victoria Airport originally functioned as a Royal Air Force training base, providing basic flight instruction to student pilots during World War II. Following the war, the airport began serving the Royal Canadian Air Force until 1943, when Air Canada started regular service.
Today, the airport is contending with several infrastructure challenges. Some structural components have remained virtually unchanged since the 1940s, and this is now becoming an issue.
One of the most pressing concerns, the stormwater network, has remained inaccessible for decades, making a thorough assessment difficult. Recognizing the importance of resolving these issues, Victoria Airport has prioritized a full inspection of its underground infrastructure as a foundational step toward implementing the Master Plan. However, the 24/7 uptime of the airport made such work nearly impossible.
Limitations of Traditional Stormwater Inspection Methods
Traditionally, most stormwater system inspections have involved technicians physically entering confined spaces. This method requires the implementation of extensive safety measures, including obtaining confined space entry permits and undergoing specialized training. However, not all parts of stormwater systems are accessible for human inspection, making it difficult to fully assess everything.
Another common inspection method includes using CCTV (closed-circuit television) push cameras for visual inspection. This involves operators manually inserting these cameras into pipes to capture video footage. However, this method isn't feasible in all situations; some stormwater systems are largely inaccessible or have sharp turns and elevation changes.
Industry practice can also include periodic flushing to temporarily clear blockages and improve flow, though it offers little diagnostic insight into pipe integrity or developing issues. It can also be harmful to the environment by releasing settled pollutants.
“When it came to the storm pipes, we didn’t have a reliable method. That’s when we started thinking about what kind of program we wanted to establish to accurately survey and locate everything in the field — ideally being able to pop a cover and look inside,” explained Tim Albert, GIS Coordinator.
A Smarter Remote Inspection Solution
A pipe crawler is a remotely operated robotic device used to inspect the inside of pipes. It’s commonly deployed in stormwater, sewer, water, or industrial systems. Pipe crawlers typically include:
• Powerful lighting capabilities for illuminating dark interiors.
• A camera system for gathering data and internal visuals.
• Sensors for measuring pipe conditions, sediment levels, damage, or gas levels.
• A tethered control system, giving the user full control remotely.
Since pipe crawlers eliminate the risks associated with entering confined spaces, operators can navigate inside the infrastructure without ever needing to set foot inside. On-the-job safety is also mitigated since no technicians need to enter the area being inspected. Additionally, the ability to “inspect before you dig” reduces operational costs for sections of infrastructure that don’t need to be replaced.
Another challenge faced by technicians is the limitations on how much they can inspect. Many areas of Stormwater and pipe systems are too confined to safely send humans into. Pipe crawlers can go to great depths without needing to worry about safety, and they can also manage sharp turns and handle difficult sewer conditions better than a CCTV.
Overall, pipe crawlers are essential when pipes are too small or unsafe for humans to enter, while also providing valuable intel on hard-to-access locations.
Town of Innisfail Case Study: Solving Municipal Pipe Inspection Challenges with a Pipe Crawler
Unlocking Inspection Efficiency at Victoria Airport
Victoria Airport’s inspection program reached a turning point when the team began exploring pipe crawlers as a solution for their challenging stormwater system. Unlike push cameras or traditional contractor methods, crawlers offered the ability to navigate long distances, sharp bends, and varying pipe diameters remotely - exactly the conditions that had slowed inspections in the past.
“It’s difficult to get to all the areas at all points in time because you have to work around air traffic and weather conditions. That means if you want to bring in outside consultants to help, we have to do it after our last commercial flight, around midnight until our first flight at 5 in the morning…But that gets expensive.”
Recognizing the benefits of employees over consultants, the airport made a strategic decision to equip and train its staff. By leveraging employees, the Airport could effectively reduce overall inspection costs and operate around the clock. The solution to the problem? Pipe Trekker’s A-200 crawler.
“As Victoria Airport staff, we have greater operational flexibility working near active airfield areas, compared to outside consultants and service providers. So we were looking for a system that would let us take advantage of that.”
Remotely operated pipe crawlers are an excellent solution to these kinds of problems, providing autonomy, meaning no delays or stoppages. With pipe crawlers being tethered, they can be controlled and operated from a safe distance away from the runway. Operational flexibility is also increased since autonomous inspections can be done at any time.
Inspecting Sub-Surface Infrastructure at Victoria Airport
At Victoria Airport, many parts of the sub-surface system are quite old and need a full inspection. Despite being inspected in the past (using a basic camera setup or through visual inspection), the entire airport's sub-surface infrastructure, including everything under the fields and runways, hasn't been fully assessed.
With around 50 kilometers of 200 millimeter or larger diameter pipe, Victoria Airport had a challenging, tedious job ahead. Utilizing the A-200 pipe crawler, they were able to inspect parts of the stormwater system that had not been inspected since the initial construction, and are now in the process of surveying the majority of the stormwater system.
“After we brought our new pipe crawler on board, we held a friendly staff competition to give it a proper name. The winning choice? ‘Snoopy’ - a nod both to the beloved Charlie Brown character and to the crawler’s job of ‘snooping’ around underground pipes in search of issues. Today, our crawler proudly sports its Snoopy decals, and even the tether reel features a sticker of Snoopy on a leash held by Charlie Brown. It’s become a well-loved (and well-decorated) member of the team.”
After all the data is collected, Victoria Airport will be able to detail which areas of the stormwater system needed repair accurately. In addition to collecting this data, they have been able to show videos and pictures of the system during presentations that amazed the attendees.
“The video quality is exceptional. We’ve been incorporating screenshots into our capital program reports for the Board, and the improvement is remarkable. When we compare footage captured five years ago on previous systems with the new imagery, the difference is striking.”
About the A-200 Pipe Crawler
The A-200 Pipe Crawler offers a powerful toolkit purpose-built for municipal sewer and stormwater inspections. Engineered for versatility, precision, and user-friendly operation, it stands out from legacy systems - especially when inspecting aging infrastructure or navigating non-standard pipe conditions. On top of that, our Pipe Crawlers have cutting-edge Software and Hardware.
“When we began looking for a crawler, portability and low maintenance were at the top of our list. The A-200 delivered exactly that: a battery-powered portable tether reel, a magnetically coupled drive, and a rugged, handheld Windows-based waterproof controller - all of which made it an ideal match for our needs. Now that we’re using it regularly, we’re confident we made the right choice. It’s allowed us to work in challenging areas of the airfield without disrupting operations.”
These key features delivered the greatest benefits to Victoria Airport:
Tailored Robotic Support for Complex Projects
At Pipe Trekker, we provide practical solutions backed by real operational knowledge. Our specialists work with you to match the right pipe crawler to your specific job requirements, whether you are inspecting municipal sewers, industrial pipelines, stormwater systems, culverts, or confined spaces where accurate condition assessment is required. Each system is configured to align with your objectives and deliver reliable results in the field.
Request Your Custom Pipe Trekker Package
If you’re considering adding a pipe crawler to your workflow, our team can prepare a package suited to your application and budget. Contact us to receive a detailed proposal and see how Pipe Trekker vehicles can support safer and more cost-effective underwater operations.
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