Using remote sensing technology to identify and locate water leaks is a quick and cost-effective method. Our pioneering digital aerial surveys are also used to map pipe routes for both clean water and wastewater networks.
Developed by our remote sensing team in partnership with a major UK water company, the project’s success was recognized with a Water Industry Achievement Award for Innovation.
APEM Inc have developed a unique approach using digital aerial surveys designed specifically for leakage mapping for the water industry.
Using aircraft mounted with state-of-the-art camera systems, our ‘leakage sensors’ can quickly detect leaking pipes above and below very large areas of ground. The surveys collect both high-resolution multi-spectral images and thermal data.
We use our specialist software to spot various signs of potential leakages. Vigorous vegetation growth is a tell-tale sign of water leaking from pipes, and our high-resolution images show this in detail. We also gather thermal images that show changes in temperature between wet ground and its surroundings: another sign of leakages.
APEM Inc’s innovative use of aerial surveys helps to locate pipe leaks efficiently over large areas, saving our clients in the utilities industry time and money by efficiently targeting their ground teams to the problem area.
Aerial surveys can efficiently cover large, remote or inaccessible areas with very little disturbance to people or wildlife and avoiding the need to secure permission from landowners to access their land. They can also capitalize on optimum weather windows.
Our maps can be held in GIS as an ongoing record, with a series of surveys showing changes over time. The data generated by the surveys can be used for other projects and for health and safety assessments on subsequent ground visits.
The team at APEM Inc would be happy to answer any questions you have about aerial surveys of pipe leaks. Please use the form below to get in touch.
Read one of APEM Inc’s blogs, news articles or case studies to find out more.
H2OVER® – going above and beyond
APEM Group offers H2OVER®, a super-sized, high resolution survey that allows users to ‘virtually’ drive or fly through an area from their desktop.
