The Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) recently participated in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Water Conservation Industry Innovation and Development Conference and Expo, held at the Baiyun International Convention Center in Guangzhou. The event provided a valuable platform for RILS to engage with government, utilities, industry and academia on promoting resilient and low-carbon water infrastructure across the GBA.
At the RILS booth, we showcased the latest research on applying optical fibre sensing for real-time water mains leakage detection and health monitoring, led by Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of RILS. Demonstrations highlighted the capabilities of distributed fiber sensing, which combines acoustic, temperature and strain measurements to continuously monitor long pipeline corridors, detect hidden leaks and flag early-stage anomalies. This approach, integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS), digital twins and edge analytics, supports data-driven asset management, reduces non-revenue water, minimises unnecessary excavation and enhances service reliability.
The event was attended by notable guests, including Mr WONG Yan Lok, Roger, JP, Director of Water Supplies, Water Supplies Department, HKSAR, and Ir Dr CHAN Hon Fai, Founding President of the Hong Kong Institute of Water and Sanitation Safety. They visited our booth to discuss potential collaborations, standards development and talent cultivation.
The Expo facilitated productive discussions on joint research, technology transfer, and demonstration projects with utilities and solution providers from across the region. Building on the momentum from Guangzhou, RILS will continue to advance optical fiber sensing and complementary smart-water technologies that safeguard resources and strengthen the GBA's critical infrastructure.
| Research Units | Research Institute for Land and Space |
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