Development of a Smart System for Leak Detection in Water Distribution Networks

Abstract

Water is a critical source of life for the human society, which needs to be sustained. Every year, a considerable portion of water is lost from water distribution networks (WDNs) due to leaks. This is accompanied by significant consequences including, economic losses and supply disruption, which are major concerns for water utility companies. Hence, a robust and timely leak detection method is necessary to conduct corrective maintenance so as to minimize the underlying consequences. Previous studies have investigated the efficiency and effectiveness of various nondestructive detection methods including ground penetrating radar (GPR), spectrometry, and infrared sensing. Based on the outcome of the recent research on leak detection using infrared sensing, this study aims to develop a smart leak detection system that integrates remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS). The proposed system is to be used by a drone, equipped with an infrared (IR) camera, and geospatial analysis tools that incorporate remote sensing and GIS for near-real time leak detection. In addition, this study utilizes currently installed pressure, flow and water quality monitoring sensors in WDNs. A GIS customized interface was developed to automate the leak detection system and allow for timely data processing. The proposed system was validated on a section of the WDN in the city of Sharjah, in collaboration with Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA). The results obtained in this research proved the efficiency of the proposed method for leak detection in WDNs.