Executive Summary : | This research project aims to address water-related challenges in urban areas, including water distribution system leakage and deterioration of water quality in urban water bodies. Leakage from water distribution systems is environmentally harmful, disrupts service, and results in economic losses for network operators. Urban water bodies, created intentionally or unintentionally, can accumulate contaminants that pose a threat to the environment, aquatic life, and humans. However, they also serve as crucial sources of water in areas with limited freshwater resources. Traditional methods for detecting water pipeline leaks and monitoring water quality are expensive and time-consuming. Remote sensing using satellite imagery offers cost-effective and efficient solutions. The project aims to develop accurate and cost-effective methods for identifying leaks in pipe networks and monitoring the quality of urban water bodies using remote sensing data. By analyzing changes in vegetation and soil moisture levels around the water pipe network, the project aims to identify leaks in water distribution systems. The developed models will be validated and compared using historical leak data from the state water distribution network. A pilot water distribution network will be set up to generate more accurate leak data. The project will employ machine learning techniques and multiple satellite data sources to map urban water bodies and estimate their water quality. The project will contribute to the comparison of different approaches for leak detection and water quality monitoring, providing a faster, cost-effective method for detecting water leaks and valuable insights into urban water bodies' quality for sustainable management. |