Pioneering water leak detection technology, developed in the UK, is set to make its debut before an influential group of European water company innovation managers.
FIDO’s Tech’s pioneering AI is among five of the world’s most exciting emerging water technologies to be presented at the Europe Technical Approval Group (TAG) on June 16.
TAG, which is made up of water companies from across the UK and Europe, meets three times a year to seek the best new technology solutions to current water industry challenges.
In FIDO’s case, that challenge is leakage. FIDO’s AI analysis platform and ‘in field’ hardware use the latest machine-learning techniques to ‘listen’ and interpret the unique data trail left by leaks and hunt down their location to within a metre, with consistently accurate results.
Combining a unique algorithm and the world’s largest and growing library of leakage data, FIDO’s 92% success rate in finding leaks is improving with every data file it analyses.
Developed by FIDO Tech Ltd, an Oxfordshire-based start-up with global ambitions, the FIDO solution was helped on the way to market readiness in the UK water sector through incubation within United Utilities’ acclaimed Innovation Lab. The company now has a five-year framework agreement with United Utilities.
CEO Victoria Edwards said it was a privilege to get the opportunity to demonstrate FIDO’s capabilities, which she believes will transform water leak detection performance globally.
“FIDO’s unique algorithm gives great results thanks to its pioneering use of differential analysis – cleverly comparing the differences between thousands of similar sets of data rather than relying on a single reading,” she said.
“FIDO applies the latest machine learning techniques to its growing library of leakage data. Whilst FIDO’s patented algorithm is very clever and involves many processes, the way our in-field devices work is actually very simple and as rugged as possible. That's why I think we're getting a lot of traction because we're not telling people or asking people to change their current work process, we're enhancing what they already do.”
TAG’s June meeting, which is attended by experts from the European water industry, will this time take place virtually because of coronavirus limitations on travel.
According to organisers, rather than dampening attendance, the virtual programme has allowed even more specialised people from member companies to attend, in addition to innovation managers.
TAG is run by specialist global water technology consultancy Isle Utilities. For each TAG meeting, Isle's Technology Analysts search the globe for emerging technologies suitable for applications in the water industry. The most innovative ideas are placed on a longlist before TAG members, who are all water company experts, vote for the most innovative technologies that are most likely to proceed to full implementation to present at the meeting.
Ceris Van de Vyver, Head of TAG & Training, said: “There is quite a lot of kudos in being selected to appear at TAG. The European TAG is an excellent opportunity to break boundaries into the water sector and be critically evaluated by experts from across EU member states. The dynamic at the meetings is one of collaboration, knowledge-sharing and enthusiasm to implement change through new technology solutions. The geographical, social, economic and political aspects of each country means we have a huge scope when searching out new tech to solve the challenges the European water industry is facing right now.”
