Smart Water — Intelligent Network Management and Leak Detection

Smart Water — Intelligent Network Management and Leak Detection

1. The Challenge

Urban water utilities face significant challenges in managing vast underground pipe networks. Leaks and pipe bursts often go undetected for long periods, leading to substantial water loss and infrastructure damage. To prevent this, utilities require a reliable way to monitor water pressure, flow rates, and quality in real-time across diverse, often remote locations that lacks wired internet access.

2. The EC312 Solution

The InHand EC312 serves as a ruggedized, intelligent edge node for remote water monitoring stations.
Integrated Data Collection: The EC312 connects to flow meters and pressure sensors using its standard RS-485 ports. For specialized sensors, the NAAD expansion module can be used to interface with 4-20mA analog signals.
Edge Intelligence: Using its TI AM6231 Cortex-A53 processor and Debian-based Linux system, the EC312 can run local algorithms to analyze pressure drops or flow anomalies
. By processing this data locally via Docker containers, it can identify a potential leak instantly at the source rather than waiting for cloud-based analysis.
"Zero-Code" Integration: The device can be equipped with the Device Supervisor Agent (DSA), which uses a low-code approach to collect data via industrial protocols like Modbus RTU/TCP and upload it to the cloud.
Global Connectivity: It utilizes 5G or 4G LTE cellular networks for wide-area transmission. To ensure maximum reliability, it supports dual SIM links with automatic failover, maintaining connectivity even if one mobile carrier's network goes down.

3. Reliability in Harsh Environments

  • Industrial Durability: The EC312 features an IP30 rated enclosure and a fanless design, allowing it to operate reliably in the damp and dusty conditions often found in utility pump stations.

  • Emergency Protection: In the event of a sudden power outage, the built-in supercapacitor keeps the device running for 20 seconds. During this window, the EC312 sends a power-down alarm to the management center and performs a safe system shutdown to protect data.

  • Security: Data is protected from the edge to the cloud through Secure Boot, TrustZone, and a built-in industrial firewall.
4. Centralized Cloud Management
Through the InHand DeviceLive platform, water utility operators can manage their entire fleet of EC312 units remotely:
      Remote Updates: Perform batch firmware and application upgrades without site visits.
      Status Monitoring: View real-time device health, including CPU, Memory, and Disk space usage.
      Remote Access: Access field equipment securely via VPN for troubleshooting.