News
– Based on data provided by smart sensors, the project will create a digital tool based on Artificial Intelligence to detect water leaks in distribution networks and homes
– SMARTFLOW will also develop a digital assistance system so that users can detect and manage leaks easily
Andalusia is one of the regions in Spain that suffers the most water stress, due to high demand and the existence of prolonged drought periods aggravated by climate change. With the aim of improving the detection, control and mitigation of leaks in urban environments to contribute to more efficient water management, the SMARTFLOW project was born.
With an initial duration of three years, SMARTFLOW will integrate data obtained by smart meters into a new digital tool based on Artificial Intelligence that will be able to detect water leaks in distribution networks and homes in real time. The project will be implemented on the Costa del Sol (Málaga) and in Roquetas de Mar (Almería), both coastal tourist areas with seasonal water demand that makes resource management difficult.
Additionally, it will develop a digital assistance application so that users can know about the existence of leaks and manage them easily. This will include among its functionalities an AI Agent based on a Large Language Model (LLM) that will allow customers to resolve doubts, receive advice on water management and consult and manage their water supply bills, promoting more informed and sustainable consumption.
The SMARTFLOW project responds to the request to reduce water losses from the new European Directive on the Quality of Water for Human Consumption, and is aligned with the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation (PEICTI), especially with the Strategic Line for Water, Seas and Oceans, since it highlights digitalization as a key element for the management and sustainable planning of the integral water cycle.
In this regard, Claudio Cosentino, director of Digital Solutions at Veolia, points out that “SMARTFLOW will put pioneering Artificial Intelligence tools at the service of water operators and users with the aim of reducing water losses, improving the efficiency of distribution networks and facilitating better service.” Furthermore, he emphasizes that the solution developed can be replicated in other regions, multiplying its impact.
On the other hand, Javier Martínez, Project Manager and researcher at Cetaqua-Water Technology Center, explains that “this project seeks to show how the combination of artificial intelligence and sensors can transform massive data into actionable knowledge, thus laying the foundations for data-driven water management that contributes directly to urban sustainability and the improvement of citizens’ quality of life.”
SMARTFLOW is a Public-Private Collaboration project led by Veolia and Cetaqua-Water Technology Center with the participation of Hidralia. More information about the project on the SMARTFLOW website.
This publication is part of the Public-Private Collaboration project Smart Intelligent Water Infrastructure Management for Real-Time Monitoring and Water Loss Prevention in Urban Areas (SMARTFLOW) CPP2024-011603 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, UE.
