11 Dec 2025News

Roadmap for Advanced Ultrasound Inspection of Metallic Water Lines

Water utilities and engineering firms face increasing pressure to extend the lifetime of aging metallic water infrastructure, reduce unplanned failures, and prioritize rehabilitation based on accurate, defensible asset condition data. 

At Linegy, we have spent more than two decades advancing ultrasound (UT) inspection technologies for corrosion measurement and crack detection in steel and ductile iron pipelines – building a global track record of more than 250,000 km of inspected networks.
Today, we are proud to present our Roadmap for advanced ultrasound Inspection of metallic Water Lines, a transparent view of the solutions currently available and a clear outlook on the next capabilities utilities can expect from Linegy in the near future. 

The roadmap outlines four complementary UT technology variants, each purpose-built to address specific pipeline materials, defect mechanisms, and diameter ranges. Together, they form a comprehensive platform for high-resolution, data-driven asset integrity management.
 

A Portfolio Designed for Modern Water Infrastructure Challenges 

CorBot UT – High-Frequency Ultrasound

CorBot UT serves as the foundational platform for corrosion assessment in steel, PVC, and HDPE pipelines. Operating in focused diameter ranges –  such as 14–16 inches and 30–32 inches. It delivers high-precision corrosion detection and sizing. The technology is fully commercially available today and widely adopted for routine integrity evaluations.

CorBot LUT – Low-Frequency Ultrasound

CorBot LUT expands inspection coverage to more complex and legacy materials, including asbestos cement, coated and lined steel, cast and ductile iron, and GRE. Designed for wider diameter ranges (for example, 32–36 inches), it targets both leaching processes and general corrosion. Pilot deployments demonstrate strong performance in detection and high-precision sizing.

CorBot MUT – Multi-Diameter Ultrasound

Modern transmission systems often combine multiple pipe sizes, and CorBot MUT is engineered specifically for this reality. Capable of operating across an extra-wide diameter range (e.g., 18–54 inches and 52–72 inches) and compatible with steel, cast and ductile iron, PVC, and HDPE, MUT supports continuous inspection across highly varying diameters without configuration changes. The system is currently undergoing internal trials in our test field.

CorBot PUT – Phased-Array Ultrasound

As the most advanced step in the roadmap, CorBot PUT uses phased-array ultrasound to achieve ultra-high-resolution detection and characterization of pitting, pinholes, and cracks – critical early-stage defects that often remain invisible to conventional inspection tools. Designed for diameter ranges such as 20–24 inches and compatible with metallic and non-metallic pipes, PUT is currently in laboratory validation and represents a significant leap forward in actionable defect analytics.

Roadmap for Advanced Ultrasound Inspection of Metallic Water Pipelines

 

CorBot UT
High-Frequency  UT

CorBot LUT
Low-Frequency UT

CorBot MUT
Multi-Diameter UT

CorBot PUT
Phased-Array UT

Materials

steel, PVC, HDPE

asbestos cement, coated & lined steel, cast & ductile iron, GRE

steel, cast & ductile iron, PVC, HDPE

steel, cast & ductile iron, PVC, HDPE

Diameter Range

focused range
(e.g., 14-16”, 30-32”)

wide range
(e.g., 32-36”)

extra wide range
(e.g., 18-54”)

wide range
(e.g., 20-24”)

Main Target

general corrosion

leaching and general corrosion

general corrosion

pitting & pinhole  corrosion and cracks

Performance

detection and high precision sizing 

detection and high precision sizing

detection and sizing

detection and ultra precision sizing

Status

commercially available 

pilot available

internal trials

laboratory validation

A clear path toward smarter Asset Integrity Decisions


Linegy’s UT inspection roadmap provides water line operators with a structured view of the inspection capabilities available today - and those emerging shortly - to support strategic, data-driven asset management. From general corrosion monitoring to advanced crack detection, each CorBot fleet contributes to a more resilient, transparent, and cost-optimized approach to pipeline integrity.
We remain committed to delivering world-class inspection technologies that help utilities manage risk, target rehabilitation investments, and extend the service life of critical water infrastructure.