title: Low-cost failure sensor design and development for water pipeline distribution systems.
abstract: This paper describes the design and development of a new sensor which is low cost to manufacture and install and is reliable in operation with sufficient accuracy, resolution and repeatability for use in newly developed systems for pipeline monitoring and leakage detection. To provide an appropriate signal, the concept of a "failure" sensor is introduced, in which the output is not necessarily proportional to the input, but is unmistakably affected when an unusual event occurs. The design of this failure sensor is based on the water opacity which can be indicative of an unusual event in a water distribution network. The laboratory work and field trials necessary to design and prove out this type of failure sensor are described here. It is concluded that a low-cost failure sensor of this type has good potential for use in a comprehensive water monitoring and management system based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN).
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical & Medical Engineering, University of Bradford, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Widdop
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mounce
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Machell
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D008027:Light; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants