"Brains" installed in Napier's manholes
Manholes around Napier City have received their own "brains".
The smart technology, in the form of sensors, has been installed inside 50 manholes to warn Napier City Council staff when a drain is getting too full or reaching its capacity.
This can be an indicator of a blockage or malfunction further up the system, or higher than usual flow. If the sensor thinks there’s an issue it alerts the environmental and depot teams through their cellphones.
Paul Davison, the engineer leading the project, says thanks to the sensors they’ll know there’s an issue before it’s an issue.
“Before this, we’ve been blind to what’s happening minute by minute, area by area in the underground network. This will give us pre-emptive info so we can act immediately.”
He says the sensors are relatively inexpensive and are housed in boxes made in New Zealand using a 3D printer.
They send signals to a satellite which in turn sends a message to the monitoring system. There are 20 currently installed with thorough testing now taking place. A similar system has been trialled and installed in Tauranga and Taupō.
