“Every drop counts” may seem a cliché, but it is accurate. Water loss is a major issue, with scientists predicting that we waste more than two trillion gallons of water each year owing to leaks in our infrastructure. Two trillion gallons of water is equivalent to about a trillion dollars in economic value.
Leaks may cause extensive damage to a facility and it’s constituting assets. To manage water assets in your facilities, you must have a dependable water leak detection system. In this article, we’ll go over the leak detection system and why you should prioritize it to improve your facilities management operations.
What is leak detection?
Leak detection is a mechanism for detecting material leaks from pipelines and alerting operators to these situations. Water leak detection entails maintaining your facilities, such as industrial, commercial, and residential, for water leaks.
The leak detection method has five components: detecting components, defining leaks, monitoring components, fixing components, and record-keeping.
Water leakage is a challenge, irrespective of typology. Be it your residences, commercial spaces in your urban infrastructure, or else the underground piping and tunnels.
Therefore, the adoption of water leak detection technology is a must. It helps you in the following ways:
Infrastructure Monitoring
Leak detection and infrastructure monitoring could be categorized into various divisions as per the different typologies.
To solve water leakage issues in each individual typology, a suitable leak detection technology stack has been deployed.
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Residential and commercial leak detection
According to research, the average home loses 2,000 to 20,000 gallons (7.6 m3 to 76 m3) of water annually due to leaks. Some of the common challenges in residential and commercial leak detection are accessing pipelines and finding moisture sources. To address leaks in homes and commercial spaces, acoustic sensors, infrared cameras, moisture meters, and pressure testing are being used.
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Tunnel leak detection
Common tunnel leak detection challenges are high-pressure conditions, restricted access locations, lining integrity, and significant water volumes in a tunnel. Tunnel leak detection employs sophisticated techniques such as fiber optic sensors, hydrostatic pressure tests, visual inspections, CCTV cameras, and chemical tracers to assure tunnel safety.
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Underground Leak Detection
For underground Leak detection, one has to cope up with various soil kinds and conditions.
Underground or subterranean leak detection uses ground-penetrating radar, tracer gas, electromagnetic fields, and acoustic sensors to identify leaks in large subterranean networks.
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Surface Analysis
Technolgies such as laser scanning and thermal imagining provide a thorough capture of the facility, detecting even the slightest damage or error. They can also detect surface changes indicating water leakage.
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Real-time data and alerts
Advancements in technology, particularly smart devices and IoT, enable real-time data information on facility’s assets. This ensures timely detection of defect and enabling proactive measures before the occurrence of issues.
Commonly used leak detection technologies
Manual leak detection methods are inefficient and imprecise, resulting in the frequent deployment of technology. Given technological developments, we will now examine several technology solutions for deployment at each level of key leak scans.
Capturing the water leakage
This is the fundamental step in the leak detection process. Water leakages are not easy task to spot manually. Therefore, new-age technologies like laser scanning and thermal imaging could aid in this matter.
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LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
LiDAR utilizes laser pulses to measure distance, resulting in comprehensive 3D models. This could also be utilized for accurate leak identification for concerns such as water damage or structural modifications. And then subsequently, modeling it out too.
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Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS)
Tunable diode laser absorption is one of the latest technology options for detecting and locating leaks. A TDLAS analyzer uses infra-red light to analyze gas samples in a measuring cell with a laser and detector, and a reflective surface for light bounce.
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Portable Laser Scanners (Mobile LiDARs)
Portable laser scanners are mobile laser scanning devices which are easy-to-use. Almost similar to terrestrial laser scanners, they are accurate and precise in 3D image generation. It might be extremely valuable in urgent leak detection or in hard-to-reach regions.
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Drone-mounted laser scanners
Drone laser scanning technology allows for speedy leak detection in difficult-to-access areas, as well as detailed descriptions of large surfaces. This is handier in improving safety, reducing environmental impact from a considerable infrastructural asset.
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Thermal imaging cameras
Thermal image capture is benefitable in leak detection in hidden areas. By pointing out the temperature differences caused by moisture, you need not to work on suspicious openings and breaking open walls.
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Acoustic leak detection
Source: researchgate.net
In Acoustic leak detection, acoustic sensors are permanently put on the water distribution network to automatically record noise samples from the water flow in the pipes.
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Automated leak detection software
Automated leak detection software collects and analyzes water flow data. The algorithm at the backend of this program identifies potential leaks. It could be used to notify maintenance personnel on proactive repair expenses.
Analyzing your water management facilities with tools
It doesn’t stop with just capturing the leakage. Organizations invest in smart tools to monitor the water behavior of multiple assets to also keep themselves one step ahead of these leaks.
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Smart devices and condition assessment tools
Smart water meters, inspection robots, and sensors provide additional intelligence for leak identification and monitoring.
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AI/ML-powered insights
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing leak detection by analyzing a big historical and real-time dataset. The intent is to improving performance prediction on inuitive dashboards and providing critical insights into water usage and infrastructure health.
The importance of leak detection in climate change precautions
Leak detection helps in climate change mitigation by for maintaining building’s energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and limiting damage to local infrastructure.
VDC technologies like as BIM, laser scanning, and digital twin technologies might be useful leak detection methods. BIM is used for cooperation in the modeling and analysis of performance under multiple situations.
A variety of high-quality laser scanners may generate point cloud data by collecting existing structures. It might be useful in detecting flaws that traditional inspection methods may overlook. Real-time data, along with BIM, might pave the way for a digital twin. The digital twin enables more accurate simulations and scenario testing, as well as predictive maintenance.
Combining these technologies improves leak detection, as well as contributes to sustainable construction practices. Contact an expert BIM-VDC provider who may be fully responsible for your facility management operations.
Further Reading
BIM Management Comprehensive Guide
Digital Twins For Building Lifecycle Assessment
3d Laser Scanning In Construction Complete Guide
Differences Between Lidar Vs Laser
Leica Scanner Comparison: Rtc360 Or Blk360
