West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. has started using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect underground pipe leaks in line with its goal of reducing network losses and recovering more water supply for distribution.
Maynilad tapped the technology of satellite-based infrastructure intelligence company Asterra for the initiative, particularly for its patented algorithms that were originally developed to detect water on other planets.
Maynilad said it is the first water company in the Philippines to test the use of this technology for detecting underground leaks. The technology involves applying algorithmic analysis to track the spectral signature of potable water underground over a land area of approximately 3,000 square kilometers captured in a satellite image.
The leakage information the AI algorithms pick up will then be captured in a geographic information system report that specifies street locations, enabling Maynilad to fast-track the process of detecting and repairing underground leaks.
Maynilad said for its year-long pilot use of Asterra’s technology, 1,000 kilometers of its primary lines will be examined to actively look for possible leaks.
“By leveraging on this cutting-edge technology, Maynilad can locate underground pipe leaks in a more efficient way, as it reduces the time and effort needed for our field personnel to pin-point leak sources that often involves digging test pits on the streets.
This will help to facilitate our leak detection and repair activities, which are an essential part of our non-revenue water management program,” said Ramoncito Fernandez, Maynilad president and chief executive officer, in a statement.
