Joined approach for leak detection in buried pipes via vibration response of the ground surface

• Grant number: 23/03035-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: July 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Mechanics of Solids
• Principal Investigator: Fabrício César Lobato de Almeida
• Grantee: Bruno Cavenaghi Campos
• Supervisor: Emiliano Rustighi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universitá degli Studi di Trento, Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/07586-0 - Investigation of ground vibration measurements for leak detection in buried water pipes using cameras, BP.MS

Abstract

The accurate detection of underground pipes and water leaks using non-intrusive techniques remains a challenge. The use of cameras and computer vision techniques to analyze structure vibrations is a promising method, yet with some limitations regarding the amplitude of the signal that can be detected (noise floor) and frequency range over which ordinary cameras are able to collect useful vibration information. This project proposes the use of a technique that combines beamforming array signal processing algorithms under development at UniTrento and a technique that uses camera for non-contact vibration measurements. The latter has been under development at UNESP-FEB (Bauru) to detect and locate leaks in buried water pipes using ground vibration response due to a leak-type excitation. It is believed that by combining non-intrusive measurement techniques with appropriate processing algorithms can enhance existing techniques leading to a better non-revenue water management. (AU)