Deep Dive
Sewer inspections generate a wealth of valuable data, but the way that information is captured, stored, and interpreted is often inconsistent.
Reactive and proactive inspections may follow different processes, formats, and systems, making it difficult to compare results, track trends, or turn observations into reliable insight.
Without a standardised approach, critical information can be lost, duplicated, or underused—limiting our ability to understand asset condition and make informed decisions.
This sprint asks:
How might we improve and standardise data collection from sewer inspection processes while tracking the full data journey—from capture in the field to meaningful insight and action?
This sprint will bring together operational teams, asset intelligence specialists, data experts, and digital partners to reimagine how sewer inspection data is captured, managed, and used.
Together we will:
- Map the end-to-end data journey for sewer inspections—from field capture to asset decision-making
- Identify inconsistencies between reactive and proactive inspection processes
- Explore opportunities to standardise data formats, capture methods, and quality controls
- Define how inspection data can better support asset health assessment and intervention planning
- Design concepts for improved data management, integration, and visualisation
Participants will collaborate through a series of structured design and analysis sessions to:
- Map current inspection workflows and data flows
- Identify pain points in data capture, quality, and accessibility
- Develop standardised data capture frameworks for inspections
- Prototype ideas for digital tools, dashboards, or data pipelines that improve insight generation
- Explore how better data can support predictive maintenance and asset lifecycle planning
By the end of the sprint, we aim to deliver:
- A clear map of the sewer inspection data journey across reactive and proactive processes
- Recommendations for standardised inspection data collection and management
- Concepts for tools or systems that improve data visibility and usability
- A framework for assessing the impact and value of inspection data
- A roadmap for piloting improved data practices within NWG
- Operational and inspection teams, with clearer and simpler ways to record field data
- Asset intelligence teams, with improved access to consistent, high-quality information
- Data and digital teams, supporting better integration and analytics
- Strategic planners, gaining deeper insight into network condition and risk
- Customers and communities, benefiting from more proactive infrastructure management