Issue link: https://geospatial.trimble.com/en/resources/i/1415432
Spring 2019 27 2 W hen tank inspectors arrive at a job site, they have a single focus: get the work done quickly, safely and correctly. In the fi eld of aboveground storage tank inspection, however, speed and accuracy sometimes seem mutually exclusive. But by adopting new technologies for collecting and analysing tank inspection data, US-based inspection company TechCorr has signifi cantly reduced time spent onsite without cutting corners. The nuts and bolts of inspection TechCorr conducts tank inspections in accordance with standards established by the American Petroleum Institute (API). The standards specify time intervals between inspections as well as how inspections should be conducted. The work includes extensive physical measurement of a tank's fl oor, shell and roof. The measurements are used to look for issues including out-of-vertical or out-of-roundness of the shell, settlement around the base of the shell, and settlement or depression of the tank fl oor. Other inspection work tests the thickness of tank walls and fl oors as well as the condition of welds, nozzles and other tank appurtenances. In addition to concerns for safety, regular inspections provide information that helps clients maximise the performance and lifetime of a tank. An out-of-service inspection requires a tank to be emptied and cleaned to allow inspectors to work inside the tank. This downtime, plus additional time for repairs or maintenance revealed by the inspection, can add up quickly. Jason Hayes, Trimble, USA, explains how laser technology adds efficiency and detail to storage tank inspection.