## 3 Water Transport Systems of Mining Industry: Evaluating Advanced Inspection Technologies
### Qualitative Evaluation of Inspection Techniques  
Each technology's effectiveness was rated based on parameters critical to the mining sector. Table 2 presents the scores for above-ground and buried inspection ranges, market accessibility, analysis method, and inspection procedure for each technique. Figure 4 presents a radar chart comparing the suitability of different technologies for the case study mining site. In-Line Inspection (ILI) technology achieved high scores (29 out of 36) in the evaluation due to its exceptional capacity for providing extensive, high-resolution data on pipeline integrity. ILI's ability to inspect both aboveground and buried pipeline segments over long distances offers substantial advantages, especially for pipelines extending across vast areas typical in mining operations. Unlike methods limited to specific pipeline sections, ILI tools can continuously inspect both exposed and buried sections as they traverse the pipeline, allowing for seamless data collection across various terrains. This capability ensures consistent, high-quality data over the entire length of the pipeline, facilitating a comprehensive integrity assessment with minimal manual intervention. ILI's long-range inspection and self-contained operation make it particularly suitable for mining pipelines that may traverse inaccessible or challenging terrains. Additionally, ILI's market accessibility is high, as it is a well-established technology in the oil and gas sectors, supported by a wide array of vendors and service providers. This widespread adoption ensures that mining operations can easily source the necessary tools, expertise, and support for ILI deployment, enhancing its overall attractiveness for industrial applications. Our analysis of the strengths and limitations of ILI technology is supported by previous research [31], which emphasizes ILI's robust data collection and high-resolution imaging capabilities. Further contributing to ILI's strong evaluation is its quantitative and highly detailed data collection, scoring it high in analysis capability. ILI technology provides precise measurements on internal and external pipeline conditions, covering factors such as wall thickness, corrosion depth, and structural deformations. Its sophisticated sensors offer high-resolution imaging, enabling the detection and quantification of minor flaws that may indicate potential failure points. This precision is crucial in assessing pipeline structural health and enables data-driven maintenance decisions. However, ILI technology scored lower on inspection procedure (3 out of 6) due to its disruptive requirements, as it often necessitates operational adjustments, including controlled flow rates and the installation of launching and receiving stations, which can add logistical complexity. Additionally, pipelines must meet specific \"piggable\" criteria, such as consistent diameter \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline
**Aspect** & **GWUT** & **MMM** & **ILI** \\ \hline Aboveground Section Range & 4 & 6 & 6 \\ \hline Buried Section Range & 4 & 6 & 6 \\ \hline Market Accessibility & 6 & 4 & 6 \\ \hline Analysis Method & 3 & 3 & 6 \\ \hline Inspection Procedure & 6 & 6 & 3 \\ \hline Inspection Preparation & 4 & 4 & 2 \\ \hline Total Score & 27 & 29 & 29 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Effectiveness Ratings of Pipeline Inspection Technologies. and minimal bends, which may require modifications--particularly challenging in older mining pipelines. Guided wave ultrasonic testing (GWUT) received low scores (4/6) in several areas due to its inspection limitations and practical constraints, especially in the mining industry. Guided wave technology uses ultrasonic waves that weaken over long distances and in buried pipelines, limiting their effective range to about 30 m or less. This requires multiple access points and inspections in large pipeline networks.