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WATERSCAN
Sistema Optoelectrónico Inteligente para Monitorização de Redes de Distribuição de Água e Deteção de Fugas

Challenge

Water scarcity in certain geographies and water losses are a huge global problem and in Portugal, for example, there are worrying figures resulting in very significant environmental and economic waste. In 2022, according to the Water and Waste Services Regulatory Authority (ERSAR), water losses reached 162 million cubic metres (m3). According to ERSAR, reducing 80 per cent of these losses would result in potential savings equivalent to 130.4 million m3 per year. Considering an average domestic consumption of 48m3/year/inhabitant, this saving would make it possible to supply 2.7 million inhabitants in a single year.

Solution

The WaterScan project aims to develop an innovative system for detecting water losses in distribution networks, using ‘sensorised’ optical fibres combined with an intelligent data acquisition and processing system, for real-time monitoring with high spatial precision of parameters such as temperature and humidity, enabling leak detection and the management of distribution network operation and maintenance in a much more efficient and intelligent way. This system incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Twins (DT) technologies to process large volumes of data, simulate and optimise network performance, aligning perfectly with the European Union's (EU) objectives of the green and digital transition, in this case with application in the management of a vital resource for humanity, water.

Objectives, Activities and Results expected / achieved

Specific expected objectives:
O1 - Develop a new technique for detecting water leaks in real time, with high precision and accuracy, using optical fibre technology as the main sensor;
O2 - Develop and implement DTs for digitising the water distribution network;
O3 - Develop and incorporate mechanisms based on artificial intelligence to optimise operations and predict anomalies;
O4 - Development and industrial validation of the technology developed.

Project Reference

CENTRO2030-FEDER-01468500

Funding


Intervention Region

Portugal

Total Investment

1.414.738,72

IPN Investment

334.837,60

Total Eligible

1.414.738,72

IPN Eligible

334.837,60

EC Funding – Total

1.135.048,84

EC Funding – IPN

284.611,96

Duration

36 Months

Start Date

2025-02-01

End Date

2028-01-31

Approval Date

2024-12-02

Consortium

Fibersight - Smart Sensing Solutions, Lda
Instituto Pedro Nunes
Universidade de Coimbra

Keywords

Water management;
Digital Twins;
Artificial Inteligence;
Optical Fibre.
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