Pipeline Leak Detection from Space
In the Big Idea Summit ‘Pipeline Leak Detection from Space’ won the Best Start-up Award for AUMSAT Technologies with a team comprising Riddhesh Soni, Divyang Soni, Karan Behar and Anurag Wasnik. The start-up has given a cost effective high tech solution for combating the leakage problem.
Background
One of the biggest questions that were heavily debated by mankind in the 1990s was whether or not there was water on the moon. Many space missions went to unfold this mystery but were unable to find substantial evidence for the presence of water signatures on the surface.
Technology
Accidentally in 1994, one of the US military’s spy satellites named Clementine was about to complete its earth observation mission. So, NASA proposed a plan to send the satellite to the moon with the remaining fuel and power left on board. The specialty of this satellite was it was equipped with a radar sensor that could penetrate the soil, view in day and night conditions, and effectively map the entire surface of the moon. So after a few revolutions, the radar on board the satellite started to show water signals near the south pole regions which are considered to be permanently shadowed regions. This discovery was the first use of radar technology to find water signatures.
Innovation
In 2009, Chandrayaan 1 satellite of India finally proved successfully the presence of water on the moon. Using the same technology used to detect water on the moon, we developed a technology to locate water leakage in underground pipeline networks.
Problem of Leakage
In India, the central government funds various utilities to manage water distribution infrastructures. Unlike foreign countries, our utilities use conventional survey methods and ground sensors to monitor water leakages in drinking water pipelines. Despite these efforts, these methods are unable to predict water leakages and in 72 percent of cases, they are unable to detect live water leakages resulting in loss of potable water in the form of Non-Revenue Water. India loses 39 litres out of every 100 litres of potable processed water due to pipeline leakages.
Remote Sensing
Aumsat has developed remote water leak prediction technology, focused on reducing water pipeline losses of water utilities along with optimizing their energy, water use efficiency, and economic losses associated with it. Aumsat provides precision-driven, satellite-based, AI-enabled hydro analytics for detecting and predicting water leakage in pipeline networks. Unlike traditional survey-based companies and SCADA-based systems, Aumsat provides services remotely with higher precision and at a 75% lower cost.
Effective Solution
In pipeline networks, Aumsat can detect early markers of aging, corrosion, pressure transient, demand cycles, and anthropogenic stress for early detection, condition monitoring, and prediction of failure events in pipelines. The Technology is interoperable with any existing SCADA systems
Projects
In the year 2019, 330 leakages occurred in Singapore, out of which 197 leakages were predicted to save 6,300 Gallons of water every month and 3.7 million Dollars annually. Aumsat technology has been deployed for PUB Singapore, SETOM France, HMWSSB Hyderabad, Udaipur Nagar Nigam, PHED Mumbai, and BWSSB Bangalore.
Benefits
- No external expertise is required for interpretation.
- Synoptic view of the entire city in one single screening.
- Proprietary algorithm for multi-satellite data assimilation and data analysis.
- No installation or capital cost required. No changes in existing infrastructure required.
- Reduced NRW both economically and logistically.
- Information interoperable with existing GIS layers.
- Detection of underground leakages up to 10m depth
AUMSAT team comprises specialized engineers, scientists, and big thinkers passionate about making information accessible and actionable having been part of India’s Chandrayaan 2 lunar mission and trained by NASA, UNOOSA, ISRO, Google, and Harvard School of Design.
The foundations are built on Precision, Innovation, and Trust. Whenever there is a leak, there is an increase in power consumption, loss of life and property, depletion of water quality, and creation of an artificial drought in a city.
This innovative solution into the existing ecosystem would improve basic socio-economic & water demand & supply & ensure equitable distribution of pipeline water resources.
The project is a boon for sustainable use of resources of which water is most precious
ScienceNow Digital congratulates the wonderful innovation!
-Team ScienceNow
