This award will support Professor James Liggett of Cornell University in a research collaboration with Professor Gustavo Ayala of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM). The objective of their research is to study leaks in water distribution systems by directing a measurement program so that leaks can be detected with minimum effort. Such a program can be automated and the analysis made continuously to find anomalies in the system. Leaks in water distribution systems are a common occurrence, whether they are caused by a catastrophic event such as an earthquake or by slow deterioration. Detection of such leaks is a major problem. As a result of the 1985 earthquake, Mexican officials have expressed a willingness to collect additional data as required for relevant research on the Mexico City water distribution system and to carry on experiments in small portions of the distribution system. The Mexican side will also provide software that is useful for computation in water distribution systems while the U.S. side will address parameter identification types of calculations. As envisioned, this collaborative research cooperation offers a golden opportunity to test algorithms with real data under realistic situations and, consequently, has the potential to develop effective procedures for leak detection and damage control.
