Analysis of Water Leaking Pipes using Impulse Radar: A Case Study in Surigao City, SDN Philippines

Abstract

Water distribution and transportation are carried out via subsurface plastic and metal pipelines. This study aims to determine the position of leaky pipes and discriminate between metal and plastic pipes to pick appropriate handling tools during excavation. Leaking pipes in the water distribution facility were identified through visual inspection and limited information about the position and kind of pipe, where rigorous excavation with proper instruments caused substantial damage to the water pipes. Meanwhile, the approach employs impulse radar, in which signals are broadcast to subsurface pipes, and the reflected signals are gathered and analyzed using a radargram. The simulation is carried out by using soil radargram results as a base, which are then compared to the radargram results of metal pipe, plastic pipe, metal pipe with water, plastic pipe with water, metal pipe with leaking water, and plastic pipe with leaking water which is buried underground in the soil. When examined to the soil radargram, the results reveal dissimilarities of radargram depiction of metal pipe, plastic pipe, metal pipe with water, plastic pipe with water, metal pipe with leaking water, and plastic pipe with leaking water.