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Municipal pipe inspection and maintenance is a cornerstone of urban infrastructure resilience. As pipes age (many of which were installed mid‑20th century or earlier) they are increasingly prone to leaks, blockages, corrosion, and general operational inefficiencies, contributing to water loss, contamination, and costly repairs. With the American Water Works Association projecting a multibillion-dollar U.S. funding gap for replacements, municipalities are shifting to proactive, non-invasive inspection methods like Pipe Trekker’s remotely operated crawlers.
In the Town of Innisfail, early use of the A-200 submersible crawler has already enabled storm line mapping, improved lateral inspections, and reduced downtime from equipment maintenance, setting the stage for measurable gains in inspection coverage, accuracy, and long-term cost savings. These systems deliver high-resolution imaging, precise structural measurements, and real-time data from within pipelines via small access points, eliminating excavation, minimizing disruption, and improving safety by keeping inspectors above ground. With more accurate condition assessments and targeted maintenance, these robotic crawlers extend asset life and reduce unplanned outages, bringing scalable and cost‑efficient solutions to communities.
How Is the Town of Innisfail Using the Pipe Trekker A-200?
The Town of Innisfail in Alberta has integrated the Pipe Trekker A-200 robotic crawler into its public works operations to improve sewer and stormwater pipe inspections. The unit is used to survey underground infrastructure for defects such as sags, cracks, root intrusion, and debris accumulation. High-definition forward and reverse video, combined with tilt and roll sensors, allows operators to document slope irregularities and potential failure points with greater accuracy than legacy equipment.
Data collected from inspections is archived for long-term asset management, enabling the town to map its storm lines, track structural changes over time, and prioritize rehabilitation work based on measured conditions rather than reactive maintenance.
Utility Foreman Terry Sandgathe notes how satisfied their team is with the adoption of this technology:
“We have enjoyed using it immensely, it’s a huge benefit compared to what we had. It’s a beautiful little unit.”
Terry Sandgathe brings 20 years of water and wastewater experience with 15 years in municipal supervisory roles. His expertise in infrastructure maintenance and inspection informs the town’s approach to adopting new technology for long-term asset management.
Prior to the A-200, the town used a straight-ahead crawler camera that lacked pan, tilt, and lift functionality. Frequent repairs of the equipment also slowed inspections further.
“The old camera spent more time in the shop getting worked on than actually in the sewers.”
The A-200 now enables lateral checks, storm pipe assessments, and condition verification that were previously challenging.
“It’s just nice to be able to check a lateral when you come up to it and see what’s at the end, make sure there are no blockages, roots, or anything else. We couldn’t do that with the old equipment.”
What Challenges Were They Trying to Solve?
Aging inspection tools were limiting the team’s ability to perform efficient and accurate assessments. Legacy cameras offered poor visibility, especially in older or debris-filled pipes. Equipment failures and downtime due to frequent maintenance created further delays. Without clear imagery or reliable data, identifying issues like lateral connections or pipe sags was difficult and often incomplete.
Key drivers for upgrading equipment included:
Limited visibility in legacy cameras
Unreliable equipment with high maintenance needs
Need to assess lateral connections and detect sags or dips
The updated crawler system directly addressed these challenges with more reliable navigation, improved imaging, and robust diagnostic features.
“It’s got a much better ability to mark where we’re at. There’s just so many upgrades to what we had before the crawler, it’s crazy.”
This upgrade also supports the town’s broader goal of building a comprehensive stormwater asset management system. With clearer imaging and positional awareness, crews can now begin the process of mapping storm lines and building a more accurate record of underground infrastructure.
“The visibility, reliability, diversification, huge benefits. Just overall, we plan to use it a lot more for our storm lines, getting them mapped and categorized.”
St. Charles Parish Case Study: Modernizing Pipe Inspections with Pipe Trekker
Which Features of the A-200 Crawler Stand Out Most?
Sandgathe and his team identified several high-value features of the submersible pipe crawler:
Tilt and roll indicators for identifying dips and pipe misalignments
Reverse camera for monitoring safe crawler retrieval and avoiding traffic jams
Powered reel system for faster, safer deployment compared to manual hand-rolling
Before the upgrade, the team lacked the tools needed to precisely diagnose structural issues or ensure safe, efficient crawler operation. Without tilt and roll data, it was difficult to quantify sags or misalignments in aging storm lines.
“As far as features go, I love having the tilt and roll indicators, all those kinds of tools.”
Manual cable handling slowed down deployments, and the old system had no way to monitor the crawler during retrieval, often resulting in delays or minor blockages.
“The reverse camera is amazing. Being able to see what’s happening as the unit comes back in. With the old camera, they’d often run into issues or cause little traffic jams. Now they can monitor everything and make sure it’s returning at the right pace. I really don’t have anything bad to say about it.”
How Does the A-200 Improve Pipe Inspection Accuracy?
Previously, inspections lacked the detail needed to assess structural condition with confidence. Without precise tilt data or maneuverable cameras, identifying dips, sags, and lateral connection issues was largely based on guesswork. This limited the team’s ability to prioritize repairs or plan future upgrades.
“Now, with the crawler, we can actually see how bad the dips are, which is really important for figuring out where we need to invest in infrastructure.”
The A-200 improves accuracy by providing high-resolution visuals and actionable data from inside the pipe:
Tilt and roll sensors help identify structural issues like sags or low points
Articulating camera head enables thorough lateral inspections at junctions
Measurement tools (planned for future integration) will support long-term condition tracking
What Measurable Results Has Innisfail Seen So Far?
While the Town of Innisfail has only recently integrated the A-200 submersible robotic crawler into its workflow, the technology is already producing tangible operational benefits. Crews have successfully begun mapping storm lines that were previously undocumented and now perform lateral inspections during routine passes (tasks that were not possible with the former system). Early use has also reduced downtime linked to equipment repairs, allowing more inspection hours to be spent in the field rather than waiting on maintenance. These initial gains lay the groundwork for tracking inspection efficiency, coverage, and cost savings as operations expand.
How Does Supporting Canadian-Made Equipment Benefit Operations?
Both Deep Trekker and the Town of Innisfail are based in Canada, which offers several practical advantages when it comes to procurement and ongoing operations.
Local service and parts availability reduces downtime
Canadian-built equipment supports domestic industry
Familiarity with local conditions ensures the design meets real-world needs
Locally manufactured equipment means that service and parts availability are significantly faster than relying on international suppliers with potential obstacles, delays, or unforeseen complications. This proximity reduces downtime during repairs or maintenance, which is critical for municipal teams working under tight inspection schedules and budget constraints.
Supporting Canadian-built equipment also helps sustain the domestic industrial sector, preserving skilled jobs and encouraging innovation tailored to the unique challenges faced by municipalities in Canada. Deep Trekker’s design and engineering teams benefit from direct feedback and collaboration with local users, ensuring the equipment adapts to specific environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures, varied pipe materials, and diverse infrastructure layouts common across Canadian municipalities.
While Deep Trekker serves a broad international customer base, including significant operations in the United States, Canadian municipalities enjoy the advantage of responsive, regionally focused technical support and logistics, without compromising the rigorous quality and performance standards demanded by global markets.
What Are the Future Plans for Municipal Inspections in Innisfail?
The town aims to expand use of the crawler for full storm line mapping and categorization, along with routine lateral and blockage assessments. Initial results, such as completing previously inaccessible inspections and reducing equipment-related delays, are helping the crew gain operational efficiencies that will support larger-scale projects.
“It’s more about getting the crew so that they’re comfortable in their shoes… Once we have those efficiencies, we can start working on all the extra projects.”
Long-term goals include leveraging measurement tools for structural monitoring, tracking inspection coverage over time, and prioritizing capital planning based on real inspection data and documented condition trends.
Technical Advantages of the Pipe Trekker A-200
The A-200 crawler delivers a robust set of tools tailored for municipal sewer and stormwater inspections. Designed for versatility, accuracy, and ease of use, the system provides clear advantages over legacy equipment, particularly when dealing with aging infrastructure and non-standard pipe conditions.
Pipe Trekker Tools Used
Pan/tilt HD camera head
Tilt and roll sensor suite
Inflow and Infiltration Rehabilitation Methods - How To Fix Sewer Pipes
Pipe Trekker’s Expert Guidance and Custom Solutions
Our team consists of highly skilled professionals with extensive industry experience, dedicated to assisting you in integrating submersible robots into your operations seamlessly. Whether your project involves municipal pipeline and infrastructure inspections, wastewater system maintenance, salvage operations, confined space surveys, or other specialized applications, we are equipped to cater to your unique requirements and objectives effectively using our state-of-the-art robotic solutions.
Secure Your Pipe Trekker Crawler Today
When you're ready to secure your very own Pipe Trekker vehicle, feel free to contact us, and we'll be happy to provide you with a customized quote tailored precisely to your requirements. Incorporating Pipe Trekker crawlers into your operations ensures unmatched safety, efficiency, and success.
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