TII unveils drone-mounted radar technology for detecting hidden water leaks
ABU DHABI, UAE, 27 May 2025: The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), announced through a Press Release the launch of a new drone-based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) platform capable of detecting underground water leaks without excavation. The announcement was made at the World Utilities Congress (WUC) 2025.
According to TII, the new application builds on its existing SAR capabilities and applies multi-frequency imaging using P-, L- and C-band radar signals. The P-band enables deeper subsurface penetration, the L-band detects subtle fluctuations in soil moisture and the C-band provides high-resolution surface imaging. The Institute said that the combined signals support the detection of anomalies and disturbances that may indicate underground water leaks.
TII stated that the SAR system, previously validated for archaeological and infrastructure use, has now been optimised for sandy environments and can detect leaks at depths of up to 40 metres. The system is designed to enable early detection of water losses in both urban and remote areas, thereby supporting infrastructure monitoring efforts, TII added.
Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO, TII, said: “This latest application of our SAR platform reinforces its versatility in tackling real-world challenges. By enabling non-invasive detection of water leaks, we’ll be able to equip utility providers with intelligence that allows early detection of water leaks, helping to conserve one of the world’s most vital resources.”
TII said that this technology could significantly reduce water loss, lower maintenance costs and prevent costly infrastructure damage by enabling early and accurate detection. The Institute added that the approach promotes long-term savings and efficient resource management for utilities, municipalities and governments.
Dr. Felix Vega, Chief Researcher, Directed Energy Research Center (DERC), explained: “SAR’s effectiveness depends on how well we can extract signal from noise, especially in complex environments like sandy terrains. Our latest work focused on enhancing backscatter analysis and coherence metrics to improve subsurface anomaly detection. This has allowed us to push the limits of airborne radar performance in ways that weren’t possible even a year ago.”
TII highlighted that the SAR platform offers advantages over conventional sensors, such as broader area coverage, high resolution and consistent operation across different terrains and weather conditions. The Institute elaborated that with its modular and scalable design, the solution is suitable for use by utility providers, infrastructure operators in desert regions and sectors such as agriculture and disaster response.
TII said the development of this SAR-based leak detection system aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions, contributing to national water security and climate resilience by reducing water losses and improving infrastructure efficiency.