Enhancing Pipe-Break Early Warning in Smart Water Networks: Distinguishing Leaks from Water Uses
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 149, Issue 7
Abstract
This research presents a denoising technique developed for enhancing the identification of newly developed and/or developing leaks by acoustic loggers in smart water networks. The key challenge addressed is the differentiation of leak-induced signals from signals originating from other sources, such as customer water use, pumps operations and environmental noise. A spectral subtraction-based denoising technique is adapted to process the acoustic waves measured daily using wireless accelerometers. A newly captured wave file can be filtered based on a reference wave file, either one with a known nonleak noise source or one measured in the past at the same location, to highlight the differences or the evolution of the signals over time. This technique enhances the robustness of automated alarms in identifying leaks in water networks.
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Data Availability Statement
The code that supports the findings of this study is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The acoustic data used during the study were provided by South Australian Water Corporation. Direct requests for these materials may be made to the provider as indicated in the Acknowledgments.
Acknowledgments
The research has been supported by the South Australian Water Corporation through a collaborative research project (Project Code: 56118947) and by the Australian Research Council through a Linkage Project (Project Code: LP180100569). The authors thank the staff from Allwater (the operating partner for the South Australian Water Corporation) for their support during the field investigations.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 149 • Issue 7 • July 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 12, 2023
Accepted: Mar 14, 2023
Published online: May 12, 2023
Published in print: Jul 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Oct 12, 2023
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