Improved camera helps detect gutter blockages within 8m

Improved camera helps detect gutter blockages within 8m

2025-08-18

Taichung has been battling persistent rains in recent weeks, causing flooding in some areas. To make it easier to clear blockages, the local Environmental Protection Bureau is using a new camera that’s able to see inside hard-to-reach gutters as far as 8 meters. Originally, a worker had the idea to use a cellphone on a selfie stick, iterating on the idea to create this invaluable tool.

Sanitation workers clear a gutter with the help of an ingenious device.

They’re holding a new camera designed to see inside hard-to-reach gutters, making it so the cleaners no longer have to go in themselves.

A borescope is tied around a pole along with a flashlight, allowing the cleaners to see inside the dark and narrow gutter. With this device, the blockages have nowhere to hide. It can take images and video, all for only NT$2,700 apiece.

Chao Cheng-yu
Xitun District sanitation chief
Traditionally, you’d have to put your head down there and use your own eyes. You can only see so far that way. But with this camera, it can reach as far as 8 to 10 meters.

The device actually started out with a sanitation worker putting a cellphone on the end of a selfie stick to see further.

Chao Cheng-yu
Xitun District sanitation chief
Originally, a colleague from the Dali District sanitation office used a cellphone on a selfie stick. They also bought a camera. This kind of device is very helpful when clearing gutters. So our department gave out special borescopes for the sanitation teams in every district.

With this ingenious device, cleaners can better target problem areas to ensure that gutters remain clear and residents don’t have to worry about flooding.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Taichung #flooding #sanitation #borescope #camera #gutters #invention #selfiestick

防颱清水溝利器升級! "水溝內視鏡"助攻 8公尺內淤塞現形

2025-08-18

台中日前豪雨，導致部分地區淹水災情，環保局加強水溝清淤，出動清溝神器"水溝內視鏡"，透過鏡頭取代肉眼，可清楚查看約8公尺左右的水溝範圍，是否阻塞，而其實，清溝神器原型，一開始竟是清潔隊員，利用手機自拍棒加延伸鏡頭，自製而成。

環保局清潔隊水溝清淤，清溝神器強勢助攻。

手上這組水溝巡檢新利器，"水溝內視鏡"，代替清潔隊員，把水溝看得一清二楚。

蛇管鏡頭綁在桿子上，再綁一支手電筒補光源，就能深入水溝暗黑狹小的環境，讓水溝阻塞，無所遁形，可拍照可錄影，一組2700元，簡單加工後變神器。

[[西屯區清潔隊隊長趙正玉]]
"傳統的話可能就是低頭下去，用肉眼來看的話，那(可視)距離可能就比較不會那麼樣遠，那如果用水溝內視鏡的話，它的距離攝影的範圍，大概可以到達8到10公尺左右。"

其實清溝神器原型，是清潔隊員以自拍棒加延伸鏡頭，克難完成。

[[西屯區清潔隊隊長趙正玉]]
"最初是大里區清潔隊這邊有同仁，他利用手機結合自拍棒，還有去買了一個鏡頭，像這樣的神器，對清溝相當有幫助，所以我們本局就也配發給各區清潔隊專屬的清溝內視鏡。"

清溝神器，針對熱點，強勢巡檢，確保水溝不塞，讓路不淹水。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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He didn’t know how to unlock his grandpa’s phone, so he called 119. There’s no signal in most places, but he apparently remembered his grandpa mentioning that there was a spot with signal, so he went to that spot.

The boy couldn’t unlock the phone, so his only option was an emergency call.

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The marquee display boards on the Taipei MRT have often been a target of criticism for showing too much text, making it easy for passengers to miss their stop. The MRT operator recently made a slight change to the display, but now passengers are saying it might be too simplified. For instance, the “Xindian Line” is now just the “Green Line.” Critics say it misses the point, and now international travelers might get confused.

Before the train arrives at the station, information in Chinese and English scrolls by on the electronic display boards above the doors. For people immersed in their phones or listening to music, it’s hard to know the station at a glance. Especially when it’s crowded, it’s hard to see the signs inside the station. The situation has led to many complaints that it’s easy to miss your stop.

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Transfer information on the old display features the full name of the line, as well as some courtesy words, totaling 13 characters in all. The new message is much shorter, showing only the name of the stop with the color of the transfer line. Although it’s much simpler, passengers are worried that just saying the color might be confusing.

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The MRT said it will collect public feedback during the trial period for the simplified transfer message, and continue to make adjustments before deciding whether to roll it out system-wide.

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The husband and wife said they were shocked when they received the hefty fine. Soon after that, they made a follow-up video to caution others from making the same mistake.

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