Page 304 - Shaping smarter and more sustainable cities - Striving for sustainable development goals

continuous monitoring and inspection features assuring safer water supply distribution. Connecting
Smart Pipes with a wireless processor and antenna enables data to be transferred directly to a
command center, equipping water managers with the tools to detect and locate potential leaks in
real time.
Sensors can also be incorporated to optimize the water used in irrigation to measure parameters
such as: air temperature, air humidity, soil temperature, soil moisture, leaf wetness, atmospheric
pressure, solar radiation, trunk/stem/fruit diameter, wind speed/direction, and rainfall. The range
of application within cities can be from park irrigation or commercial irrigation, allowing for better
management and more accurate allocation of water resources between sectors.

Wireless Sensor Networks provide the technology for cities to more accurately monitor their water
supply systems intricately using different parameters. Sensors are multifunctional for instance they
have the ability to monitor soil moisture and can therefore detect leaks since if the ground is
absorbing water there may be a pipe leak. Many ICT companies are developing a wide range of
sensors specifically for water networks.

The major tasks for smart sensor networks in water quality monitoring are to:
 Identify and characterize changes existing or emerging trends in surface water quality over time;

 Gather information to design or assess specific pollution prevention or remediation programs or
to provide information in a timely manner to allow quick respond to emergencies, such as spills
and sewage leakages;

 Determine whether program goals – such as compliance with pollution regulations or
implementation of effective pollution control actions – are being met.
Integrating Smart Pipes and sensors within the urban system, leads to many possibilities such as the
detection of flow rate, pipe pressure, stagnant points, slow‐flow sections, pipe leakage, backflow,
and water quality; necessary data lacking in current networks.

Smart Metering
Smart meters are electronic devices which have advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) that would
support the real time measuring of electric, heat, gas, and water consumption. These devices are
rapidly evolving in response to market forces and governmental regulations. In the case of water
consumption, these smart meters typically consist of an embedded controller which interfaces with
a metering sensor, a wireless transmitter as well as display and communications extension. The
meters are connected to a data logger which allows for the continuous monitoring of water
consumption of a building, a business or a home. The innovation of smart meters, permit two‐way
communication between the meter and a central system by transmitting data which can be done
through different channels (power line, Internet, or telephone).
Smart meters typically collect consumption data, transmitting this data to a Gateway which
interfaces with the Local Area Network (LAN), Home Area Network (HAN) and a Wide Area Network
(WAN). The LAN consists of the metrology or measurement function of the meter, while the HAN is
connected to the customers' network. Moreover, due to the display functions of the HAN easily
allows accessibility to consumption data through a user friendly interface with possibilities for
customers to compare and track their water consumption. The WAN is managed by the utilities and
allows them to track, monitor and bill consumption.

294 ITU‐T's Technical Reports and Specifications