LEADING THE WAY: INNOVATIVE INSPECTION SOLUTIONS ENHANCE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN INDUSTRY 

The Industrial Systems Research Group develops advanced inspection systems, such as multispectral imaging systems for powerline inspection, which operate across the infrared (IR), visible and ultraviolet (UV) wavelength bands. CSIR-developed, world-first systems have achieved extensive commercial success globally. The team has also developed imaging systems for gas-leak detection on electrical switch gear installations and petro-chemical plants. 

Inspection systems for high-voltage power lines 

In collaboration with Eskom, a range of inspection camera systems were developed to diagnose faults in electrical power lines. The technology was commercialised to the high-tech start-up Uvirco and resulted in a thriving export business in which cameras have been sold to over 40 countries around the world. 

The CoroCAMTM range of inspection systems produces images in a combination of wavelength bands (visible, infra-red and ultraviolet) to enable identification of the presence and location of power line faults. 

More recently, in collaboration with the South African Technology Innovation Agency, the team developed a next-generation camera that, in a world-first achievement, can quantify the infra-red and ultra-violet energy from such faults so that the severity of the fault can be assessed and used to guide power line maintenance activities. 

The team also developed an SF6 and Volatile Organic Chemical (VOC) gas detection camera (GasCAM) that entered the market in 2020.