Innovation

These cameras allow movement through pressurized water, which is being used to clean the pipes, and reduce damage to infrastructure, time, and resources spent maintaining sewers. Simplifying the product is the innovation, opening the way for developing countries to acquire and use the product. Sophisticated cameras exist with intense and powerful motors. However, this raises prices, and most companies or clients can't afford to spend money on such sophistication. The innovation is introducing affordable cameras, compromising with certain qualities but innovating in others. 

Allowing the camera to move along the pipe through the water being used to clean it saves on resources required to operate it and on price. This way, appropriate maintenance and monitoring of the underground sewage system can continue. 

Inspiration

Low-quality maintenance and monitoring of the underground sewage system can have consequences such as infrastructure damage, a decrease in water quality, and a sharp decline in sanitation. These cameras are vital for engineers and workers to appropriately visualize what is going on underground. However, due to the nature of these cameras, the pricing was absurd increasing from $20,000 to nearly $500,000 in the last decade. Developing countries can't afford these cameras yet they require them. The innovation itself almost works backward. By lowering the quality of these cameras and instead investing in only what is really needed (video quality, movement through water, longevity of the product), they become more affordable and attainable.

The rising popularity followed by the need to have these cameras is what gave way for the innovation to occur. 

As Marco, ASTAP General Manager, said, "I think that for sustainability to work you have to believe it. The employees have to believe in what you are doing; it has to sink into their minds". This desire for helping their communities and planning towards the future inspired this innovation.

Overall impact

The overall impact of the innovation has had great impact on a global scale. The innovation of pressurized water-driven cameras for sewage inspection has had transformative effects, particularly in Latin American countries where access to such technology was previously limited due to high costs and overly complex features. By simplifying the camera’s design, reducing production costs, and maintaining essential functionality, this innovation makes infrastructure maintenance more affordable and accessible. In the short term, the adoption of this technology has significantly reduced the time and resources required for routine sewer maintenance as operators can quickly detect and resolve blockages or potential damage before they lead to severe issues. Evidence of this impact can be seen in pilot projects where downtime for inspections has decreased by 60%, and client satisfaction has increased due to quicker and more effective service.

In the long term, adopting this technology is expected to prevent costly and dangerous infrastructure failures, such as sinkholes caused by undetected pipe erosion or breakage. By enabling regular and affordable sewer inspection, cities can mitigate environmental degradation and protect public safety. This innovation also paves the way for other developing countries to adopt more sustainable and practical solutions for their specific needs, fostering a shift towards more accessible technological advancements in public infrastructure.

As other regions look to adopt ASTAP's advancements, ASTAP's solution exemplifies the powerful impact that tailored, cost-effective technologies can have on global infrastructure resilience and societal well-being.

Business benefit

This innovation benefits the business in several distinct ways. 

For the business, it serves as an inflow of revenue. ASTAP has innovated these cameras in order to more actively and accurately attract customers who need them. By innovating in more intuitive ways, more and more customers begin to buy them, increasing revenue for ASTAP. This opens up new investment opportunities and slightly opens up their target market by offering a new and improved product. Even though ASTAP already works internationally, these cameras allow them to consistently work with developing countries, increasing their networking, revenue streams, and sources of investment or income.

In addition, ASTAP improves its brand image. Offering a more accessible product due to their understanding of the need for these cameras shows how ASTAP truly cares about the well-being of the cities in which they operate. Even though they are working for profit, ASTAP shows how they are committed to working towards the future. Moreover, their employees can feel more fulfillment in their jobs since they have found another way that their work helps their environment. ASTAP also has to recruit skilled engineers for the production of these cameras, increasing their talent pool.

Social and environmental benefit

This innovation benefits society and the environment by directly advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6); Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9); and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12). Introducing an affordable and efficient sewer inspection camera addresses a pressing need for sustainable infrastructure maintenance, essential for both social well-being and environmental health. This innovation enables more accessible and routine inspections, reducing the likelihood of infrastructure failures that could lead to hazardous outcomes like road collapses, flooding, or contamination in communities. For municipalities, this means fewer interruptions to essential wastewater services and better long-term resilience, particularly in Latin American regions where infrastructure issues are common.

From an environmental standpoint, the technology supports responsible consumption by minimizing water waste and reducing the reliance on heavy-duty, resource-intensive equipment. Instead of relying on motors, the camera operates on high-pressure water, the same system used for pipe cleaning. This eliminates the need for extra motors or power sources thus reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. This eco-conscious design contributes to a smaller carbon footprint and sets an example for other regions, emphasizing how essential infrastructure improvements can support SDGs without compromising environmental sustainability. By aligning with these goals, the innovation represents a scalable, sustainable model that inspire similar advancements worldwide and helps communities and governments meet global standards for safe, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure.

This scalable idea not only addresses immediate local needs but also sets a precedent for sustainable infrastructure management worldwide, illustrating how targeted, accessible technology can drive progress toward a more resilient and responsible global future.

Interview

Marco Rodríguez, General Manager

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