Revolutionising non-revenue water with AI SaaS technology
By Paul Parr, Global Technical Director
NON-revenue water (NRW) remains one of the most pressing challenges facing utilities worldwide.
With ageing infrastructure and increasing pressure to conserve resources, water companies are constantly seeking more efficient ways to detect and address leaks. Enter the smart all-in-one NRW reduction system using FIDO AI, a smartphone app and versatile multi-function hardware that’s setting out to transform how the industry approaches this critical issue.
The Evolution of Leak Detection
Traditional leak detection has long relied on multiple proprietary tools, each with its own skill set, training, and maintenance requirements. First, there are fixed acoustic sensors that monitor pipeline networks for leaks. Some companies have gone as far as having an analyst conducting a manual listening to determine if an on-site leak investigation is warranted.
Then, there’s the kit the field technicians need to carry out leak investigations. Techs can have varying levels of access to mobile loggers, correlators, and ground microphones. End-to-end, it’s a system which can be costly and time-consuming and can prolong the time it takes to get from leak alert to repair dependent on the availability of equipment.
FIDO Tech has consolidated these functions into a single, powerful solution incorporating artificial intelligence, an app and versatile sensors that double-up as correlators and ground microphones.
What Makes FIDO Different?
FIDO uses AI to deliver non-revenue water reduction through its SaaS (software-as-a-service) products, Leak Locate and Network Monitor.
Leak Locate is used in field as a combined lift-and-shift logger, correlator and ground microphone to sweep areas and accurately locate leaks on the ground.
Network Monitor incorporates an additional dial home IoT device with each sensor to automate data collection and deliver daily leak results by size for resource prioritisation in the office.
Thanks to AI, both subscription products need minimal training, no calibration, no thresholds and include unlimited data processing.
Both solutions can also be used to take asset soundings, profile consumption and even help detect theft. Used in combination, Leak Locate and Network Monitor provide a complete solution for end-to-end NRW reduction.
The world’s most versatile sensor
At the heart of the FIDO system is a compact versatile HD sensor that works in harmony with FIDO AI, a market-leading neural network trained exclusively on verified leak data. FIDO AI delivers consistently accurate leak detection from acoustic data analysis at speeds humans can only dream of, and can even determine the likely size of a leak.
Unlike conventional systems that can rely on manual analysis and need thresholds to limit the number of alerts they generate, FIDO AI picks up every sound and vibration so that nothing is missed.
Then, using the same app and device, the FIDO system seamlessly guides teams from leak alert to repair validation. There’s no need for separate bulky equipment, no charging requirements, and no calibration. This streamlined approach can dramatically reduce the time and resources required to identify and address leaks.
Key Features That Set FIDO Apart
Multi-functional sensors:
Each FIDO sensor can be used for fixed network monitoring, as a mobile logger, correlator, ground microphone, and consumption monitor for unmetered properties.
Zero maintenance:
The FIDO sensor’s long battery guarantee and no calibration requirements, FIDO Smart minimises operational overhead.
AI-powered analysis:
FIDO AI can detect the presence of leaks from the minutest sounds and vibrations in pipes in real-time, analysing thousands of data files in seconds without the limits of human hearing.
Leak sizing capability:
The system assesses likely leak size, allowing teams to prioritise repairs for maximum water loss reduction.
Repair validation:
After pipe repairs are completed, FIDO AI verifies success and checks for masked leaks that may have been obscured by the primary issue.
The FIDOSMart app gives skilled technicians access to enhanced AI tools and consistent AI results as part of their day-to-day decision-making. Intuitive guided workflows and our GPT assistant AskFIDO minimise training and guarantee users get the most out of the system. Data insights, auditable tracking and reports are available as an API or via a PC hub.
Real Results That Speak Volumes
We’ve been using FIDO technology successfully with select water utilities for several years, refining our app and process based on real-world feedback and results from leakage technicians.
FIDO technology has already delivered impressive water savings for UK water utilities. Documented case studies show leakage reduction percentages ranging from 25% to 37% across major providers including Thames Water, Southern Water, Yorkshire Water, and others.
These numbers represent not just water conservation but potentially significant cost savings and operational efficiency improvements for utilities facing increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.
Flexible Deployment Options
FIDO products are flexible and scalable to meet your specific needs:
Fixed network monitoring
Network Monitor is the most cost-effective fixed network monitoring on the market. It combines our smart sensors, IoT telemetry add-ons, and accurate automated AI analysis, delivering daily points of interest ranked by leak size.
Network sweeps:
Leak Locate lets you sweep any area of network by using our smart sensors as lift-and-shift loggers. Upload your GIS data and let FIDO AI generate a map of optimum deployment locations in your app so you get full coverage of your chosen network taking into account pipe material. Once deployed, collect the sensor the next day and get immediate points of interests ranked by leak size delivered to the app.
In-field leak investigations:
Leak Locate makes leak location and repair verification easy and cost effective because you can use the same multi-functional sensors to correlate leak position, conduct asset and ground sounding and provide all the points of evidence you need, not to mention our very own Consumption profiling feature.
Just sign up and buy the exact number of sensors you need.
The FIDO Way: A Process Built on Experience
Leak Locate and Network Monitor work because they were designed by utility leak experts who know the traditional detection process inside out and have adapted it to work with AI.
We call this AI-optimised process ‘The FIDO Way’. It seamlessly integrates FIDO AI technology into familiar work processes, enabling utilities to maximise results without disrupting established workflows.
The process incorporates AI analysis at key points:
- Network monitoring phase to generate accurate points of interest, known as Waypoints
- On-site investigations supplying multiple points of evidence
- Post-repair validation to ensure issues are truly resolved
The Future of Water Conservation
Water loss through leakage is more than just an operational challenge. It’s a sustainability and resilience issue that impacts communities and environments worldwide. By dramatically reducing the cost and inefficiency of leak detection with no compromise on accuracy, FIDO products help conserve our most precious resource whilst reducing operational costs and carbon footprints associated with water treatment and distribution.
As utilities face increasing pressure to reduce leakage percentages and improve network efficiency, advanced tools like FIDO AI will become essential components in meeting these challenges. Equipping skilled operatives with cutting-edge AI technology with practical field applications represents the future of water network management.
Learn More
To discover how FIDO AI can transform your utility’s leak detection capabilities, improve efficiency and contribute to your water conservation efforts at less cost, connect with our team of experts. Whether you’re looking for fixed network monitoring, in-field investigation or a complete solution for NRW reduction, FIDO offers the versatility, accuracy, and efficiency that modern water utilities demand.
Water conservation is too important to rely on outdated methods. With FIDO, the future of leak detection is here today.
