Data Driven Pre-Construction Workflows on Wastewater Pipelines with the Elios 3

The Gedeon GRC Robotics department assessed 850 linear feet of the Anacostia Force Main, a critical wastewater pipeline that serves over 113,000 customers in the Northeastern USA, and the Elios 3 was the only safe way to do it.  

Benefits In A Nutshell

The Anacostia Force Main is a large wastewater pipeline in Northern DC, which transfers wastewater from Maryland towards the Blue Plains treatment plant, covering a distance over 6 miles (10 kilometers). A critical piece of infrastructure, it serves over 113,000 customers across multiple counties.

In July 2025, a large-diameter pipeline failed and discharged sewage into the Anacostia River. Teams were quick to react, using bypasses and concrete reinforcement. DC Water, the operator of the pipeline, completed all repairs in September of 2025, but emphasized that this pipe is under high pressure, carrying approximately 33% of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s (WSSC Water’s) wastewater flow. There’s no alternative for this system, so a failure spells concern as up to 200 million cubic meters of wastewater are transported through it per day. Moving forward, DC Water plans to bring in technical experts and coordinate future work on the pipeline to ensure its long-term reliability, leading to greater protection of both the environment and public health. To this end, DC Water contracted Spiniello Companies, trailblazers in infrastructure monitoring and refurbishment, to assist them on this project. It was the Spiniello Companies that saw the value of bringing in Gedeon GRC Consulting to survey the impossible-to-access sections of the Force Main pipeline.

Gedeon GRC Consulting, a leading multi-disciplinary firm providing engineering services for planning, design, and construction management, was asked to do a pre-construction survey of a section of the Anacostia Force Main that measured 800+ feet long (250+ meters) and 9 feet in diameter (3 meters). Access was challenging and would have to be timed around low-flow points. Gedeon GRC Consulting assigned this project to their Robotics services department, which used the Elios 3 to complete the work in this extremely challenging environment.

Deploying Robotic Solutions for Confined Space Entry  

Gedeon GRC Consulting has over 25 years of experience, and today, its team of over 90 employees helps inspect, map, and model some of the most iconic infrastructure in the Northeastern USA. Their Robotics department uses advanced drones and robotic technology to access and survey critical structures, from bridges to tunnels to wastewater networks.

For the Anacostia Force Main assignment, the robotics team knew that they wanted to use the Elios 3 drone, having successfully deployed it for other projects where access was limited - including elevator shaft surveys in 2025. The pre-construction survey required by Spiniello Companies needed to include LiDAR point clouds as well as visual inspection data comprising videos and photos - all of which could be gathered simultaneously by the Elios 3. The drone pilots from Gedeon GRC Consulting coordinated with DC Water and Spiniello Companies to find the ideal time to do the survey and then went to the access point.

The team preparing to deploy the Elios 3 at the site for a remote inspection under time pressure

Why the Elios 3 is Ideal for Wastewater Pipeline Inspections 

The Anacostia Force Main is an impressively large structure, measuring multiple miles and a diameter of up to 9 feet in certain sections. The Gedeon GRC Robotics team knew that the Elios 3 was the best solution for this project due to a combination of features:

1. Access → The Elios 3’s collision-tolerant cage and stable flight would make it easy to maneuver in a challenging environment beyond the visual line of sight of the pilot. In addition, sending the Elios 3 into the pipe instead of people would keep the team safely out of harm’s way but still guarantee the required data would be collected.
2. Data Quality → This pre-construction model required high-quality LiDAR point clouds that could be used for Scan to BIM workflows, ready to deliver actionable reports to Spiniello Companies and DC Water. The Elios 3 delivers survey-grade results alongside the 4K video and 12MP photos, providing a full remote surveying package to the Gedeon GRC Consulting team.
3. Safety → Confined space entry into sewers is dangerous, with hazards posed by the contaminated environment, restricted airflow, and fall risks next to the wastewater. It is challenging, requiring highly specialized teams and copious safety forms and procedures. Alternatively, the Elios 3 can simply fly into the space during a low-flow period and gather all of the data without any risks to the team. This is a game-changer in an environment where traditional methods offer no straightforward means of safe access.

With the confidence that they had the right tool in hand, the Gedeon GRC Robotics department got to the site and started the surveying process.

Step-by-Step Wastewater Pipeline Workflow with a Drone 

The Elios 3 pilots from the Gedeon GRC Robotics team coordinated with Spiniello Companies to complete the assessment of 800+ linear feet (250+ meters) during a Lock Out Tag Out period timed between 2 and 5 AM. This coincides with a period of little to no flow, making it easier to fly the Elios 3 with enough clearance from the water level. 

The pilots deployed the Elios 3 via a manhole measuring just 23 inches in diameter (58 cm), and they also pushed the range extender through to ensure a clear signal during the flight. The pilot completed an investigative flight up and down the pipe length being surveyed to confirm there were no hazards preventing a surveying flight, and then the team began their data collection in earnest.

The Elios 3 ready to deploy, with the Range Extender available to boost the signal

After mapping 900 linear feet with the Elios 3’s LiDAR payload, they visually inspected the space as well to ensure they captured clear images of any potential defects or points of interest that would be helpful for DC Water as they planned future refurbishments. The visual inspections were lead by members of the Spiniello Companies team, who are specialists in renovating infrastructure and could guide the pilot on where to check for defects. Quality control checks were also completed on-site using Inspector 5 to check that the data collected had no gaps.

Back at the Gedeon GRC Consulting headquarters, the Elios 3’s LiDAR data was processed via Recap to create RCP files. These files were used to measure dimensions and take screenshots. The RCP files were then exported to Civil 3D to create surfaces and generate a pipe status report alongside a pipe model created with Revit. All of these outputs were shared with the Spiniello Companies team and DC Water for them to review and plan the next steps for the Anacostia Force Main.

The Elios 3: Delivering Data from the Inaccessible 

The tight deadline of just 3 hours on site in the middle of the night meant that the Gedeon GRC Robotics department had little room for error, and selecting the Elios 3 for this mission highlights the team’s faith in the drone. The pilot from this mission has flown over 40 different drones in their career and said that the ease of flying the Elios 3 - especially due to the FlyAware live point cloud it generates - made it the only viable solution for this mission. The Gedeon GRC Robotics team prioritizes safety and accuracy in all of their missions, and the Elios 3 delivered just that.

Thanks to the Elios 3 and the skill of the qualified pilots, Spiniello Companies and DC Water will be able to use this data to move forward with refurbishing the Anacostia Force Main and avoid any future failures, ensuring smooth services for their customers while protecting both public health and the environment

Interested in learning more? Discover the Elios 3 now!