of sensors within a WDS (‘ideal’ locations at which measurements of selected
quantities should be taken) is a necessary step in the application of intelligent and
cost-effective monitoring for current and prospective WDSs. The definition of an
“optimised” sensor network is dependent on the intended purpose of the sampling
scheme and the resulting sensor data. Design methodologies in the literature are
typically catered towards one of a number of distinct agendas, and the field is
consequently segmented into a range of subsidiary groups – i.e. methods to determine optimal placement schemes for effective contaminant detection (e.g. [19–25]),
methods to determine optimal placement schemes for model calibration (both
hydraulic, e.g. [26], and water quality, e.g. [27]) and methods for leak and burst
detection, each formulation of which may be largely irrelevant outside of its own
context. Although a large amount of methods that consider how to identify the
optimal placement of both pressure and flow instrumentation within WDSs at the
DMA level for leak/burst detection and localisation can be found in the sampling
design literature, a comprehensive review of their capabilities, limitations and other
aspects important for assessing the potential of these techniques to be beneficially
utilised by water companies has not yet been presented in any review paper.
As only a limited number of sensors can be installed in WDSs due to budget
constraints and since improper selection of their location may seriously hamper leak/
burst detection and localisation performance, the development of optimal sensor
placement strategies has become an important research issue in recent years. This
chapter aims at rationalising the relevant published works in the field and is
organised as follows. After this introduction, Sect. 2 presents a synthesis and
analysis of the relevant published works aimed at (1) providing insight and awareness of differing arguments, theories and approaches, (2) highlighting their capabilities and limitations and (3) identifying the state of the art in their development.
Section 3 focuses on specific issues encountered when developing techniques for the
optimal placement of sensors for leak/burst detection and localisation that
researchers in this field have tried to address (e.g. model and measurements uncertainties, simultaneous use of pressure and flow sensors, etc.) and provides insight
and awareness of differing approaches that have been proposed in those contexts.
Section 4 presents considerations regarding, inter alia, the potential of the proposed
techniques to help water companies minimising the leaks/bursts’ runtime by effectively detecting and localising these events as they occur in a DMA and the gaps in
the current research. Finally, a summary of the chapter containing the main conclusions and highlighting the key considerations made is given in Sect. 5 in order to
promote further developments in this important field of research.
The desired outcome of this chapter is to serve as a useful resource for researchers
and practitioners involved in sensor network design for leak/burst detection and
localisation and in the development/adoption of leak/burst detection and localisation
techniques.
30
M. Romano
quantities should be taken) is a necessary step in the application of intelligent and
cost-effective monitoring for current and prospective WDSs. The definition of an
“optimised” sensor network is dependent on the intended purpose of the sampling
scheme and the resulting sensor data. Design methodologies in the literature are
typically catered towards one of a number of distinct agendas, and the field is
consequently segmented into a range of subsidiary groups – i.e. methods to determine optimal placement schemes for effective contaminant detection (e.g. [19–25]),
methods to determine optimal placement schemes for model calibration (both
hydraulic, e.g. [26], and water quality, e.g. [27]) and methods for leak and burst
detection, each formulation of which may be largely irrelevant outside of its own
context. Although a large amount of methods that consider how to identify the
optimal placement of both pressure and flow instrumentation within WDSs at the
DMA level for leak/burst detection and localisation can be found in the sampling
design literature, a comprehensive review of their capabilities, limitations and other
aspects important for assessing the potential of these techniques to be beneficially
utilised by water companies has not yet been presented in any review paper.
As only a limited number of sensors can be installed in WDSs due to budget
constraints and since improper selection of their location may seriously hamper leak/
burst detection and localisation performance, the development of optimal sensor
placement strategies has become an important research issue in recent years. This
chapter aims at rationalising the relevant published works in the field and is
organised as follows. After this introduction, Sect. 2 presents a synthesis and
analysis of the relevant published works aimed at (1) providing insight and awareness of differing arguments, theories and approaches, (2) highlighting their capabilities and limitations and (3) identifying the state of the art in their development.
Section 3 focuses on specific issues encountered when developing techniques for the
optimal placement of sensors for leak/burst detection and localisation that
researchers in this field have tried to address (e.g. model and measurements uncertainties, simultaneous use of pressure and flow sensors, etc.) and provides insight
and awareness of differing approaches that have been proposed in those contexts.
Section 4 presents considerations regarding, inter alia, the potential of the proposed
techniques to help water companies minimising the leaks/bursts’ runtime by effectively detecting and localising these events as they occur in a DMA and the gaps in
the current research. Finally, a summary of the chapter containing the main conclusions and highlighting the key considerations made is given in Sect. 5 in order to
promote further developments in this important field of research.
The desired outcome of this chapter is to serve as a useful resource for researchers
and practitioners involved in sensor network design for leak/burst detection and
localisation and in the development/adoption of leak/burst detection and localisation
techniques.
30
M. Romano