West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. said it leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in detecting areas in the water distribution system most susceptible to leaks, enabling faster and more efficient repairs.
“Through this advanced AI technology, we can proactively identify and address potential leaks in our water distribution system. This not only enables us to respond more swiftly and efficiently to pipe network issues, it also significantly enhances our ability to conserve water resources and improve service reliability for our customers,” said Maynilad chief operations officer Randolph Estrellado.
Maynilad tapped Infrawise, an AI solution owned and developed by Portugal-based AGS, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marubeni Corp.
The software analyzes data to identify critical areas within the 3,200-kilometer pipe network. During a pilot run on 1,700 kilometers, Infrawise identified vulnerabilities in over 750 kilometers, leading to the detection and repair of 1,525 leaks.
Following the success of the pilot, Maynilad said it is expanding Infrawise coverage to another 1,500 kilometers.
Maynilad started using satellite-based technology of patented algorithms by Asterra, which is capable of detecting “spectral signature” of underground water leaks from satellite images. Othel V. Campos
Asterra generates reports with specific street locations, allowing Maynilad to swiftly address underground leaks.
Maynilad said its pivot to AI increases its efficiency and water loss reduction. The company said it continues to actively explore new technologies to enhance leak detection capabilities. Othel V. Campos