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Manhole Virtual Models (MVM)

Use Digital Twins to locate and quantify manhole degradation.

RH Borden builds a 3D digital twin of every manhole in your system, then uses AI to find and measure degradation, predict maintenance, and let you inspect safely in VR — for less than a traditional manhole assessment.

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Digital twinOf every manhole
AI-quantifiedDegradation analysis
Zero-entryVR inspection
The short answer

What is a Manhole Virtual Model?

A Manhole Virtual Models (MVM) are 3D digital twins of real manholes in your system. RH Borden field teams scan each structure, build an exact virtual copy, and then use AI to quantify degradation and predict when maintenance will be required. You can measure any dimension virtually and even step inside the structure in VR — all without sending a crew into a confined space. It’s faster, less expensive, and far less dangerous than inspecting manholes in person.

A measurable digital copy of every manhole — A foundation of condition-based asset management
Manhole asset management made easy

Know which manholes are failing — before they fail you

Manhole infrastructure degrades over time, largely because of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas, which turns to sulfuric acid and slowly corrodes concrete walls, benches, and channels. The damage is uneven, and knowing which manhole is degrading the worst is hard to judge by eye.

RH Borden produces a digital twin of each manhole, then uses AI to locate and quantify the degradation across your whole system. The results are color-coded on a GIS map for easy visualization and reporting. You get objective, prioritized condition data that allows you to repair the right structure at the right time, avoiding unnecessary manhole maintenance.

And with Virtual Manhole Entry™, you can view any manhole in your system from a VR headset, in a completely safe environment.

RH Borden produces Digital Twins on your Manholes to:

  • Create a digital copy of each manhole in your system.
  • Quantify manhole degradation and predict when maintenance will be required.
  • Measure any manhole dimension virtually.
  • Create a virtual copy to be viewed in a VR headset using Virtual Manhole Entry™.
  • Save Cost! MVMs are less expensive than having a certified operator conduct a manhole assessment.
Standard, lined, brick, and non-standard manhole digital twin examples
How it works

From field scan to actionable condition data

A clear, repeatable workflow that turns each manhole into a measurable digital asset.

Scan in the field

RH Borden field teams capture each manhole as a high-density 3D scan, from the surface.

Build the digital twin

The scan becomes an exact virtual copy of the structure that you can rotate, zoom, and measure.

Quantify with AI

AI locates and quantifies degradation and predicts the maintenance window for each manhole.

Inspect & prioritize

Review in VR with Virtual Manhole Entry™, then rank repairs across your whole system.

SoundNo significant degradation detected
DegradingMeasurable wear; plan ahead and re-check
Severe lossAdvanced corrosion; prioritize for maintenance
Virtual Manhole Entry™

Step inside any manhole — without going underground

Confined-space entry is slow, costly, and dangerous. Virtual Manhole Entry™ lets your team inspect any structure in your system from a VR headset, in a safe environment, while still seeing full, accurate detail.

  • No confined-space entry and no traffic control required to look inside
  • Walk through the structure as it actually exists, any time you need to
  • Share the same model across operations, engineering, and leadership
  • Reuse the digital twin for training and stakeholder reviews
What people are saying

Utilities trust RH Borden with their systems

Joe Hawkes

RH Borden has managed the line and manhole assessment very well. The information is very helpful and saves us time and money.

Joe Hawkes
Utility client
Ted Mickelsen

Great customer service and we are excited to understand the condition of our system and use this as an asset management tool.

Ted Mickelsen
Woodland Hills, UT
Jeff Elbert

RH Borden is very easy to work with, very thorough, actionable data at my fingertips.

Jeff Elbert
Mona City, UT
Answers

Manhole Virtual Models FAQ

What is a Manhole Virtual Model (MVM)?
A Manhole Virtual Model is a 3D digital twin of a real manhole, built by RH Borden from a high-density scan. It’s an exact virtual copy you can rotate, measure, and inspect, and it’s a foundation for AI degradation analysis and condition-based asset management.
What causes manholes to degrade over time?
Manholes degrade largely because of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas, which converts to sulfuric acid on concrete and mortar surfaces and corrodes the walls, benches, and channels. The damage is uneven and hard to judge by eye, which is why quantifying it with a digital twin is so valuable.
How does RH Borden use AI in the model?
After building the digital twin, RH Borden uses AI to locate and quantify degradation across the structure and to predict when maintenance will be required — turning a subjective visual inspection into measurable condition data you can rank, schedule, and budget against.
What is Virtual Manhole Entry™?
Virtual Manhole Entry™ is RH Borden’s VR experience that lets you step inside any manhole in your system using a virtual reality headset. It’s a safe way to view and assess a structure without confined-space entry, while still seeing full, accurate detail. Virtual entry can also be done on a computer screen for shared analysis.
Can I measure manhole dimensions from the model?
Yes. Because the model is an accurate 3D copy of the real structure, you can measure any dimension virtually — depth, diameter, channel, or offset — without sending a crew back to the site.
Is an MVM cheaper than a traditional manhole assessment?
Yes. Manhole Virtual Models cost less than having a certified operator conduct a physical manhole assessment, and they leave you with a permanent digital record you can reuse for future planning rather than paying for repeat field visits.
How do I use Manhole Virtual Models for asset management?
Each manhole receives a wall score and is color-coded red, yellow, and green on a GIS dashboard. This dashboard is used to prioritize maintenance, and the data can be imported into your management system.
Will Manhole Virtual Models help me find my I&I?
Yes. 30–40 percent of the surface area of your collection system is in your manholes, so it’s not surprising that we can see so many I&I problems right in the manhole videos. Manhole Virtual Models are a key piece of the BASINiQ system for locating and prioritizing sources of I&I.
Explore more

Related RH Borden services

Acoustic AssessmentsFast pipe condition screening to focus your cleaning.Learn more → BASINiQ I&I LocationPinpoint inflow and infiltration across your basins.Learn more → GIS DashboardSee your system condition on one interactive map.Learn more → Condition-Based MaintenanceMaintain assets based on real condition, not guesswork.Learn more →

See the condition of every manhole in your system

Start with a Manhole Virtual Model and get a measurable, prioritized view of where your manholes are degrading — and what to fix first.

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