IKT – Institute for Underground Infrastructure

Large-Diameter Sewer Pipes: Cracks, Risks, Structural Integrity – What Operators Need to Bear in Mind

Posted 16. May 2026

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Large-diameter pipes are high-performance assets – and high-risk ones. If accessible main collectors fail, there is a risk of backflow, flooding, road collapses and high follow-up costs. What should network operators look out for in terms of construction quality, inspection, structural integrity and rehabilitation? And how can they identify weak points in the pipe-soil system?

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Become an IKT Certified Sewer and Pipe Expert (CSPE) – Why It Can Be a Turning Point in Your Career

Posted 05. April 2026

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An internationally recognised certificate, direct access to IKT expertise and flexible online learning: the CSPE programme helps sewer and pipeline professionals strengthen their technical profile and open up new career opportunities worldwide. In sewer and pipeline engineering, career progress rarely comes from titles alone. It comes from something more durable: recognised expertise, trusted credentials and access to the right professional network. That is exactly where the IKT Certified Sewer and…

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IKT International Conference 2026: How AI, Drones, Sensors and Robotics are Transforming Sewer Operations – and What Network Operators Should Prepare For

Posted 18. February 2026

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Almost 100 experts from 14 countries and live demonstrations in our test sewer made it clear that AI in sewer operations, drones, sensors and robots are already changing processes and priorities today. For sewer network operators, this means:

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Two-Meter CIPP Giant, Zero Downtime: UV-Cured GRP Relines Main Collector in Belgium

Posted 26. September 2025

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First in Belgium: a DN 2000 sewer collector that can’t stop for a second is being rehabilitated with UV-cured GRP liners. The unique twist? They have to keep a whole city running with a bypass of 13,000 m³/h while crews worked just before the treatment plant. To show how that’s engineered, international experts were invited on site. Amongst them: IKT’s Ashwini Ausekar, who shares insights from her site visit.

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Down Under: What are the performance limits of CIPP liners?

Posted 22. September 2025

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Last week, the interim results of our international LinKa – Liner for Sewers research project were presented at the headquarters of the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) in Melbourne. The event brought together project partners from Australia and New Zealand in a hybrid workshop setting to discuss first findings and exchange expertise. Many Questions were asked, many answers were given.

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What Goes Back Into the Sewer Trench? – Flowable Backfill Materials Put to the Test

Posted 14. July 2025

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Settlement damage, uneven bedding, and poor re-excavation capability – these are common issues on sewer construction sites. Often, the cause lies in the backfill. Temporarily Flowable Self-Compacting Backfill (TFSB) materials promise better performance – but which ones actually deliver? We tested five different TFSB products in full-scale sewer trench simulations. The aim: to evaluate how these materials perform under realistic construction conditions.

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