시간당 검침을 통해 가뭄에 대처하고 물을 절약하기 노력의 일환으로 위한 샌프란시스코 공공시설위원회(San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, SFPUC)는 스마트 인프라 기술을 제공하는 Aclara사와 STAR 네트워크를 설립했다.

Aclara사의 양방향 고정 네트워크를 통해 도시 내 18만 개의 측정기로부터 수집되는 데이터가 고객들의 물사용 트랙을 온라인 상에서 볼 수 있는 유틸리티 시스템을 작동시킨다. Aclara사는 유틸리티를 통해 집 내부에 누수가 감지되는 곳을 고객에게 알려주는 시스템 또한 만들었다. 유틸리티는 누수가 감지되면 고객에게 주간 엽서로 보고서를 보내 그 사실을 알리고 유틸리티는 다시 고객들이 알림에 반응하고 누수 부분을 고쳤는지 측정한 목록을 업데이트한 기록과 보고서를 모니터링하게 된다.

 

In an effort to combat drought and save water through hourly meter reading, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has installed the STAR network from Aclara, a provider of smart infrastructure technologies. The data collected from the city's 180,000 meters by Aclara's two-way fixed network powers the utility's system for letting customers track usage online. The company also generates a report that allows the utility to identify customers who may have leaks inside their homes.

The utility reaches out to those who show up on the report by sending weekly postcards notifying them of a possible leak. It monitors the reports and notes which accounts have come off the list, assuming that they have responded to the utility's notice and fixed the leak. Future enhancements to the report may benefit commercial customers and those owning multifamily residences such as apartment buildings.

In addition to analyzing meter readings to identify potential leaks, most of Aclara's California customers are looking hard at installing its STAR ZoneScan system, which allows utilities to pinpoint underground leaks. The company has deployed the technology in a number of East Coast communities such as Sylacauga, Ala., which uses the system to find underground leaks that occur on hundreds of miles of galvanized service lines and cast-iron pipes.

The technology automates the collection, retrieval and analysis of acoustic data gathered throughout the water system. Its leak-intelligence devices -- highly sensitive acoustic data loggers -- are deployed at regular intervals on valves throughout the water-distribution network. The devices record vibrations in the quiet early hours when factors such as traffic that affect leak noise are minimized. The system transmits recorded sounds to the utility via Aclara's two-way fixed network, where the acoustic data is analyzed and automatically correlated to identify potential leak locations.

The leak-detection system provides critical information with only minimal operator involvement. Once the units are installed, operators can monitor the system and analyze results at the utility office. No manual or drive-by data collection is required. The system can be deployed stand-alone or added on to an existing STAR network AMI system

[출처 = Water World / 2015년 8월 13일]