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Image courtesy of IKT – Institute for Underground Infrastructure
Pushing boundaries:
reflections from the IKT conference How AI, robotics, sensors and international collaboration are reshaping the future of sewer inspection – and why the UK has more to offer than it might think.
Last month, I had the pleasure of attending IKT’s International Conference in Gelsenkirchen, Germany – and what a fascinating few days it was. The event brought together a mix of researchers, utility professionals, tech developers and academics, all there to talk about the future of sewer inspection, infrastructure, and innovation. As someone who dips in and out of lots of areas but doesn’t claim to be an expert in any of them, I found it both eye-opening and refreshingly honest.
The headline themes were both current and forward- looking: AI, drones, robotics, sensors, and the increasing importance of good data. There’s a growing urgency
Image courtesy of IKT – Institute for Underground Infrastructure
around how we manage our underground infrastructure, not least because of climate change. More extreme weather, shifting flood and drought patterns, and creaking infrastructure are putting pressure on everyone in the sector.
Image courtesy of IKT – Institute for Underground Infrastructure
20 | May 2025 |
draintraderltd.com
Artificial Intelligence featured heavily. There’s real momentum behind using AI to assess sewer conditions faster and more consistently than humans. The technology isn’t perfect – and nobody’s pretending otherwise – but it’s advancing fast. What stood out was the recurring reminder that AI is only ever as good as the data you feed it. One standout example came from a Japanese
Simon Beverley-Smith, Drain Trader Magazine.
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