Review of Techniques for Optimal
Placement of Pressure and Flow Sensors
for Leak/Burst Detection and Localisation
in Water Distribution Systems
Michele Romano
Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2 Synthesis and Analysis of Optimal Sensor Placement Techniques for Leak/Burst Detection
and Localisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 31
3 Considerations on Specific Issues Encountered When Developing Optimal Sensor
Placement Techniques for Leak/Burst Detection and Localisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
3.1 Model Uncertainties and Sensitivity to the Leak/Burst Size Assumed for Hydraulic
Simulations . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 39
3.2 Measurement Uncertainties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
3.3 Sensor and Communication Failures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
3.4 Use of Flow Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
3.5 Accounting for Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4 Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
5 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Abstract Optimal sensor placement in water distribution systems (WDSs) for leak/
burst detection and localisation is a well-established and very productive research
field. Its primary focus is to minimise the cost of a proposed sensor network
infrastructure while maximising the capability to detect and localise leaks and bursts
through the analysis of the collected data. This chapter reviews in a systematic
manner relevant articles published over the last decade aiming at rationalising the
work carried out in this field. It presents a synthesis and analysis of the relevant
published works to (1) provide insight and awareness of differing arguments,
theories and approaches, (2) highlight their capabilities and limitations and (3) identify the state of the art in their development. It also provides insight and awareness of
differing approaches that have been proposed to tackle specific issues encountered
M. Romano (*)
United Utilities Water Limited, Warrington, UK
e-mail: Michele.Romano@uuplc.co.uk
Andrea Scozzari, Steve Mounce, Dawei Han, Francesco Soldovieri,
and Dimitri Solomatine (eds.), ICT for Smart Water Systems: Measurements and
Data Science, Hdb Env Chem (2021) 102: 27–64, https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2019_405,
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019, Published online: 18 September 2019
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