The challenge
Water pipe condition assessments are expensive
A water pipes condition assessment is expensive and disruptive – water utilities inspect one per cent of its network assets annually. Each year in Australia, 7,000 critical water main breaks occur, resulting in billions of dollars in rectification and consequence costs. In contrast, the cost of preventative maintenance is only 10 per cent of reactive repair costs.
The Ex-byte team developed technology that uses data analytic techniques to predict failure probability based on learned patterns. This technology can accurately predict water pipe failures, which will provide effective preventative maintenance and a reduction in customer interruptions.
Our response
Data-driven techniques to make intelligent predictions about failures
The team developed technology that uses data analytic techniques to predict failure probability based on learned patterns. This technology can accurately predict water pipe failures, which will provide effective preventative maintenance and a reduction in customer interruptions.
The results
Efficient, preventative maintenance and the avoidance of supply disruptions, and more reliable water supply
Smart Pipes technology creates significant impact for water utilities through efficient, preventative maintenance and the avoidance of supply disruptions, and benefits for consumers through more reliable water supplies.
An independent economic assessment estimated the net value of the benefits of the Smart Pipes technology was $41 million over a 10-year period, with a benefit-cost ratio of 301.2:1.
The Ex-Byte Infrastructure Team won the 2018 Eureka Prize for Excellence in Data Science (known at the time as the Smart Infrastructure Team).