Improving Manhole Rehab Decisions with LiDAR and 360° Digital Twins: Elsinore Valley MWD’s Data-Driven Approach

Presentation Description: Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) and RH Borden partnered to deploy an innovative Manhole Virtual Model service, creating detailed digital twins for 150 wastewater manholes. Over the course of two years, each manhole was scanned using LiDAR technology and a proprietary corrosion analysis tool, paired with 360-degree video capture. The result was a powerful combination of visual documentation and quantitative condition scoring.

Each manhole scan took approximately 15 minutes in the field, with two weeks of processing and analysis to generate a “MVM Wall Score.” This score is calculated by measuring the delta between the current wall thickness and the ideal wall profile, then combining defect count and intensity into a prioritized ranking. EVMWD used this data to identify the 10% of manholes with the worst structural health, ensuring capital improvement dollars were focused where they would have the greatest impact.

The 360-degree video files proved equally valuable, allowing engineering teams to virtually “walk” each manhole from their desks, share detailed visuals with rehabilitation contractors, and minimize unnecessary confined-space entries. This digital-first approach significantly streamlined planning and contractor coordination, saving time and resources while improving safety.

In this case study, presenters from EVMWD and RH Borden will share project goals, methodology, and key results, including:

How LiDAR-based digital twins and corrosion analysis software provide actionable condition data.
Lessons learned from scanning 150 manholes and processing the results into an asset management tool.
How visual data transformed contractor communication and rehabilitation planning.

Attendees will see examples of the 3D models, corrosion heat maps, and immersive 360-degree videos used in the project. The session is relevant to utility managers, engineers, and operations staff seeking efficient, data-driven ways to prioritize infrastructure rehabilitation.

By adopting a condition-based prioritization strategy, EVMWD maximized the return on rehabilitation investments and laid the groundwork for an ongoing digital baseline of their wastewater collection system. This presentation will demonstrate how similar agencies can integrate manhole digital twin technology into their asset management programs to improve decision-making, safety, and project outcomes.