As part of a pilot project with Grand Calais Terres & Mers (France), SUEZ installed a fiber optic cable – using a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) system - on a 2 km cast-iron pipeline. This innovative solution enabled real-time leak detection and intrusion monitoring with exceptional accuracy.
Challenge
Detecting leaks and unauthorized access in water pipelines is crucial for maintaining infrastructure integrity. Traditional methods often lack precision and real-time insights. SUEZ needed a solution that could provide continuous monitoring without disrupting operations.
Solution
A fiber optic cable was installed along the pipeline and connected to a DAS system, capable of detecting acoustic vibrations caused by leaks, tampering, or structural issues. The installation was completed smoothly, with no service interruptions or hygiene risks.
To test the system, two measurement campaigns were conducted, including simulated leak and intrusion scenarios. The DAS system successfully detected micro-leaks, valve tampering, and manhole cover openings, pinpointing locations within 5 meters. All findings were displayed on an intuitive online dashboard for easy monitoring.
Results
The pilot project proved the effectiveness of fiber optic sensing for pipeline monitoring. With accurate, real-time detection of leaks and anomalies, SUEZ demonstrated how DAS technology can improve water infrastructure security and efficiency.
“The results of the sensing campaign were remarkably accurate, from micro-leak detection to identification of valve tampering and manhole cover openings. All these anomalies were displayed in an intuitive online dashboard, with a pinpoint accuracy of 5 meters."
Pierre Bonardet– Innovation manager at SUEZ
More information
Let’s have a chat via info@dalimonitoring.com.
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