Water leaks in pipelines are a regionally relevant problem, with a heavy economic and environmental impact. These water leaks can occur in remote areas of the Ligurian territory that are not easily accessible but can be monitored with satellite technologies.
Currently, pipeline leak research, where implemented, is based on acoustic sensors, the so-called geophones, special microphones that detect the sound of water escaping from the pipes, used by specially trained personnel who methodically check sections of the pipeline.
The project, which started in the spring of 2024, focused on developing a reliable water network management system independent of the electric grid, responding to the need for monitoring through data-driven decisions based on field and satellite data. The system integrates heterogeneous data, from field measurements coming from new and existing sensors (powered by microturbines integrated into the valves), numerical models, and satellite images (Earth Observation) processed using intelligent techniques.
TPG role
TPG contributed to the modelling of water pipelines and definition of key indicators of malfunction during leak events, supporting the development of algorithms for detection of leakages based on pipeline performance parameters.