When Jon Korotko first heard about the Quickview 360 manhole inspection pole camera, he couldn’t wait to buy one and reap the benefits he figured would ensue: increased safety for technicians and a significant productivity pop.

So far, the field superintendent for PowerVac, a Michigan-based sewer and industrial cleaning company, hasn’t been disappointed.

For starters, the camera — made by Envirosight, a brand owned by IDEX Corp. — has largely eliminated the need for confined-space entry to inspect grease trap interceptors, which is a large part of PowerVac’s business.

“We inspect hundreds of interceptors a year, more and more often as part of a proactive scheduled maintenance program,” Korotko says. “Michigan requires private businesses to get annual interceptor inspections. And I can assure you that confined-space entry is not desirable on any level, from the risks involved to the smell, which is one of the most horrific odors you’ll ever encounter.”

Moreover, the Quickview camera can video square-shaped interceptor vaults, unlike other cameras Korotko has used.

“With standard manhole inspection cameras, you get incomplete data for the corners in a square vault because they’re designed for round infrastructure,” he says. “But the Quickview 360 picks up all the information in the corners. There aren’t any data voids.”

More efficient inspections

Then there’s the efficiency boost. Korotko says the Quickview 360 provides about a 30% increase in productivity.

First of all, the Quickview doesn’t require a tripod as well as other ancillary equipment, so there’s no time wasted on setting up on a job site. All an operator has to do is screw the camera, which is about the size of a cellphone, onto the pole and lower it into a manhole or interceptor.

“There’s a large circle on the tablet screen (the app-operated camera comes with a computer tablet) and if you put the camera in too fast, it tells you to slow down,” Korotko says. “And when the laser rangefinder reaches the end measuring point, it tells you to stop. Then you pull it out and move on to the next job.”

Along with the rangefinder, beneficial features include a pan-and-tilt camera operated via an app on the tablet; a 30-foot telescoping pole; a dual-lens camera that provides 360-degree coverage; bright LED lamps; and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can operate for an entire work day on a full charge.

Accurate measurements, detailed data

The camera also saves time because all the data it collects while videoing can be quickly uploaded to WinCan sewer inspection and asset management software.

Before, technicians would use a video camera or cellphone camera to perform an inspection and manually insert digital notes and measurements on the camera screen as they encountered defects. 

“That usually took about an hour,” Korotko says. “Now videoing the interceptor takes about 10 to 15 minutes and it takes another 15 minutes or so to put the data together and upload it. Then you can sit in an office and scroll through the video and describe the physical condition of the interceptor — the frame cover and seals, the condition of the baffles, the location of and extent of defects and so forth. And you do it all in a controlled environment instead of doing it under adverse conditions.”

The Quickview’s software provides a “virtual” pan-and-tilt feature that allows for more detailed views of a video, plus a video editing feature. Contractors can also create a 3D model of the structure they inspected.

Furthermore, even the most qualified technician has a hard time getting accurate measurements during a confined-space entry inspection. But the Quickview’s laser rangefinder provides exact measurements that help create a much better and more detailed report for customers, Korotko says.

Solid ROI

The camera aids customer service in other ways, too. Detailed inspections can save customers money if they indicate that infrastructure needs less frequent cleanings than anticipated. Regular inspections can also help customers avoid fines from municipalities, Korotko says.

“It also helps heighten customers’ awareness of this infrastructure that supports their businesses,” he adds. “They realize that inspections and proper maintenance keep their businesses running uninterrupted by things like emergency calls for sewer overflows when an interceptor gets clogged.”

At about $24,000, the camera represents a fairly considerable capital investment. But the return on investment it provides more than compensates for the cost, Korotko says.

“We have 40 vacuum trucks, which we use to clean manholes and catch basins as well as sewer lines and interceptors,” he says. “And we can use the Quickview 360 to inspect catch basins and manholes, too, so it’ll more than pay for itself pretty quickly. It’s really an amazing tool, especially when compared to other cameras we’ve used that cost up to $90,000. I wonder how we ever got along without it. This is a case that really illustrates why contractors have to invest in new technology.”