Robustness analysis of sensor placement for leak detection and location under uncertain operating conditions

Some pressure sensor placement methods for leak detection and location in water distribution networks are based on the pressure sensitivity matrix analysis. This matrix depends on the network demands, which are nondeterministic, and the leak magnitudes, which are unknown. In this paper, the robustness of a sensor placement methodology against the fault sensitivity matrix uncertainty is studied. The robustness study is illustrated by means of a small academic network as well as a district metered area in the Barcelona water distribution network. Results reveal that this uncertainty should be taken into account in the sensor placement methodology.