FLUIDANALYTICS.AI
Sean Michaels
May 1, 2022
LONDON, UK—In cities with aging underground infrastructure, understanding the true condition of sewer networks remains a critical challenge. In Pune, India, sewer systems more than a century old are still in operation, often with incomplete or outdated maps, increasing the risk of leaks, blockages, and water contamination.
Fluid Analytics has been deploying robotic inspection systems in such environments to address these risks. The robots are designed to navigate confined, hazardous sewer pipes—areas that are difficult and dangerous for human access—collecting visual and structural data to identify defects, blockages, and potential failure points.
In Pune, these robotic inspections are being used not only to detect leaks but also to reconstruct accurate digital maps of sewer networks whose original records have been lost or degraded over time. Improved mapping enables utilities to better plan repairs, reduce infiltration and exfiltration, and ultimately limit contamination pathways that affect surface water and drinking-water sources.
The use of robotics also raises broader social considerations. Sewer inspection and maintenance have traditionally relied on manual labor carried out by some of the most marginalized workers in urban India, often exposing them to toxic and life-threatening conditions. By shifting inspection work from people to machines, robotic systems reduce human exposure to noxious environments, while prompting new discussions around workforce transition, safety, and livelihoods.
Fluid Analytics’ work in Pune reflects a broader shift underway in urban water management: moving from reactive, high-risk practices toward data-driven, safer, and more transparent infrastructure intelligence. As cities seek to modernize legacy systems, robotic mapping and inspection are emerging as essential tools for reducing contamination risk while improving both environmental and human safety.