POSCO and RIST developed a method of generating magnetic fields in the pipes by sending electric current to precisely determine their location. (image: POSCO)
SEOUL, April 21 (Korea Bizwire) — A South Korean steelmaker has developed a technology that can track the location of underground pipes with close precision.
POSCO announced Monday that it recently set up an information system of pipe networks inside its integrated steel mill in Pohang using the pipe tracking technology developed by the Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST).
Roughly 70 percent of water pipes used by the steel mill are buried underground, making it difficult to locate defects caused by aging infrastructure.
Underground pipes also require regular maintenance, wasting massive amounts of water and money. With current technology, however, it has been difficult to locate pipes buried 1.5 meters deep or lower.
To overcome such limitations, POSCO and RIST developed a method of generating magnetic fields in the pipes by sending electric current to precisely determine their location.
This technology not only shows the horizontal layout of the pipes, but also the locations of pipes buried 10 meters deep, with a margin of error below 0.3 meters.
The company expects that the technology will help to limit spending on excavation, water supply, and reduce the time spent on overall construction.
POSCO and RIST plan to improve the technology for commercial use.
“This technology can minimize the risk of various damages caused by pipe leaks, as well as secondary accidents such as sinkholes and pipe damages,” POSCO said.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
