Ingénierie de l'eau

Pre-diagnostics play a key role in defining the many preventive and curative maintenance operations which are part of asset management policies.

INFRANEO has naturally developed many innovative and robotised remote visual inspection solutions, in addition to our in-the-field experts, with certain procedures becoming benchmarks in the water sector.

Detailed inspections are essential in order to have a thorough understanding of the current condition of water structures. They involve:

• Extensive visual surveys of defects and damage
• Analysing all elements collected and the condition of the structure inspected
• Recommending measures to be taken (maintenance, additional investigations, repairs, monitoring measures, etc.)

INFRANEO has developed innovative auditing tools to characterise the mechanical and structural behaviour of underground structures. These tools are now widely used in the industry and provide information about the structure, the soil and the interface between the two.

This unique method is backed by our soil engineering expertise to assess the immediate environment of underground water and sanitation structures.

Our R&D department has developed tools and methods to monitor and diagnose all types of civil engineering structures . Thanks to complementary investigations made possible by our expertise in structural engineering, our experts can precisely evaluate the condition of works:

• Acoustic, sonic and ultra-sonic methods
• Radioactive methods
• Electromagnetic methods (ferroscans, geophysical radars)
• Optical and acoustic methods
• Thermal methods (infrared cameras)
• Dynamic testing (vibrations, impedance)
• Mechanical methods (crossbow tests to measure pre-stressing tension, internal jacking of underground structures to assess the quality of bonds with the surrounding soil, measurement of support forces with jacking).
• Electrochemical methods (corrosimeters to measure corrosion potential)
• Core drilling and sampling
• Test drilling under surface foundations

INFRANEO has several specialised internal laboratories throughout France. They ensure complete technical autonomy and the management of costs and deadlines.

The tests can take place directly on-site or on structures using samples and specimens.

The aim: to analyse the physical and chemical properties of soils and structural materials with a range of technical resources:

• Tension, bending and compression tests
• Shear tests
• Permeability and porosity tests
• Adhesion tests
• Frost resistance tests
• Tests to determine the level of concrete carbonation
• Ph measurements and chloride, alkali, nitrate, phosphate and sulphate levels
• On the soil: the French Road Earthworks Manual (GTR), calcimetry, swelling thanks to our additional expertise in soil engineering.

INFRANEO helps analyse the origins of all structural defects which have been observed and measured. Thanks to comprehensive diagnostics, you can give your manager a list of maintenance, repair and monitoring measures to be taken.

These diagnostics are essential for all rehabilitation and modification projects.

INFRANEO guides you at every stage of your project:

• Management and performance of investigations on-site and at the laboratory
• Analyses of the investigation results, causes and consequences of any defects detected
• Performance and durability studies of the structure
• Geotechnical risk analysis
• Recommendations and preliminary studies of repairs, reinforcements, modifications and prolongations of lifespans.

Structural diagnostics, design of reinforcement and repair solutions, feasibility studies, as well as support in managing structures requiring calculation methods and advanced modelling.

INFRANEO support is also about:

• Recalculating and determining the bearing capacity of existing structures
• Calculating structural reinforcements (additional recommendations, carbon fibre fabrics, GRP liners for metallic nozzles)
• Modelling underground structures while taking into account multiple interactions applied to the structure
• Calculating surface coatings due to underground works
• Conducting impact studies with finite element modelling.

INFRANEO works with contractors to help them understand their assets and schedule investments in studies and maintenance and rehabilitation works. In this spirit, INFRANEO uses its digital tools to offer personalised solutions.

• Creating a database with infrastructure inventories
• Prioritising the condition of structures thanks to our statistical tools and algorithms founded on our multidisciplinary knowledge
• Asset management in real-time with a summary of infrastructure-related data
• Financial strategies to steer investments intelligently over several years

The state of assets, investigations and works carried out are measurable and visible at each stage, allowing contractors to define priority actions to carry out: Inspections, Diagnostics, Works.

A financial strategy is also drawn up to better estimate corresponding costs, define budgets and optimise investments.

As a European leader of asset management, INFRANEO works with contractors on all aspects from successful rehabilitations to the creation of civil engineering and water and sanitation structures.

Our specialist teams double as designers and builders, carrying out the regulatory missions established for their profession. INFRANEO takes care of your projects, from feasibility studies to acceptance of the works:

• Feasibility study: analysis of input data, constraint studies and various scenarios
• Reconnaissance, final draft and preliminary design phases: define a programme and provisional costs of works to be carried out
• Project plan and assistance (to project owner) for contract award phases: fine-tuning key points and finalising the consultation file to validate the project’s compatibility with the local environment and assisting with the allocation of work contracts on the basis of studies approved by the contractor
• Approval phase: examine the compliance of documents drawn up by the contract holders compared to the project prescribed during the design phases
• Execution phase: technical, administrative and financial monitoring of the building site with the aim to ensure that the works are carried out in compliance with the requirements of the contract drawn up.

INFRANEO and its teams provide assistance to contractors during acceptance operations, as well as during the maintenance bond period.

For the purpose of inspections and the technical monitoring of works, INFRANEO provides all the intellectual services required to carry out checks on materials, equipment and the installation of associated equipment.

Whether you’re looking to secure ageing infrastructure, monitor the impact of nearby works or understand long-term phenomena, INFRANEO provides detailed, permanent monitoring of all types of structures (railway platforms, tunnels, buildings, civil engineering structures, etc.) using appropriate equipment (topographic instrumentation, geotechnical monitoring, vibration monitoring, sound measurements, etc.). Thanks to the group’s dual expertise, this configuration can be extended up until soil monitoring.

Diverse tools and monitoring solutions are available to resolve this issue:

• Defining a system for measuring soil and structural behaviour
• Implementing defined programmes
• Collecting sensor data and continuously monitoring the structural behaviour of the building (deformation, cracking, displacement, inclination, vibrations)
• Specifying alert thresholds and managing alerts
• Analysing external environmental factors (temperature, humidity, wind)