Prof Ts. Dr. Faidz bin Abd Rahman
Professor
Faculty of Engineering and Science
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
faidzar@utar.edu.my

NO	NAME	PROJECT TITLE	RESEARCH DOMAIN (SUB DOMAIN)
1	Prof Ts. Dr. Faidz bin Abd Rahman	Highly Sensitive Optical Fiber Acoustic Sensor based on Laser Dynamics Behaviour for Near Real-Time monitoring of Water Pipelines	Pure and Applied Science (Physics)
2	Assoc. Prof Ts. Dr. Ezra Morris Abraham Gnanamuthu	Severity estimation and localization of leaks for improved asset management using data analytic methods	Information and Communication Technology (Information System)
3	Prof Dr. Andy Chit Tan	Quantification and Localization of Water Pipeline Leaks through Innovative Acoustic Emission Data Processing Techniques	Technology and Engineering (Infrastructure and Transportation)
4	Dr. Chong Shyue Chuan	A Framework for Effective and Sustainable Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Management	Social Sciences (Management [Organisational Behaviour, Entrepreneurship])

3 years 3 months (01 December 2016 – 29 February 2020)

Non Revenue Water can be categorized into physical loss (21.93%) and commercial loss (14.70%). Most physical losses are from small leaks that are non-surfacing and occur underground, rather from large breaks. Hence, if the water pipeline condition can continuously be monitored, it will not only save on maintenance cost, but also manpower requirement, time and other property or environmental losses. One of the major difficulties of monitoring pipelines stems from the fact that the length of the water pipeline can be tens of meters to kilometers, different types and sizes, and certain parts buried underground. Piezoelectric (PZT) sensors have difficulties adapting to the various conditions and prone to electrical noise issues which limit the sensitivity. These sensors are also generally point-sensing devices, thus a large number of sensors are required for long pipelines making the usage impractical. The research question posed would be whether optical fiber laser can be used to replace the piezoelectric (PZT) sensors as a highly sensitive, point-sensing and single-type sensing device to continuously detect small leaks/breaks along the water pipeline by measuring the acoustic vibration caused by acoustic emission from pressurized water pipelines. These can be answered through understanding the principle of fiber laser dynamics towards perturbation on the optical fiber structure due to acoustic vibration; setting-up of the optical fiber laser and monitoring the dynamic behavior caused by acoustic vibration on a water pipeline; and analyzing the resonant frequencies of the water pipeline and identifying the acoustic frequencies generated by small leaks/breaks. Hence, by monitoring the acoustic frequencies of the water pipeline coupled with back-end processes, leakages/breaks can be detected and located to allow repair work to be taken in a timely manner to reduce NRW.

1. To develop a fiber laser acoustic sensor based on laser dynamic behaviour for near real time monitoring of weak acoustic signals generated by small leaks and breaks along the water pipeline.
2. To evaluate acoustic signal frequencies detected by the fiber laser acoustic and conventional PZT sensors in different conditions and various types of water pipes using signal processing for localization of water pipeline leaks.
3. To establish a secure communication protocol and synthesize a data analytics process where near real-time and historical data from acoustic sensors and conventional instrumentation gauges/digital meters will be collated and analysed for abnormality in consumption and severity estimation of water pipeline leaks.
4. To improve the framework for the management of information in utility companies to ensure Non Revenue Water is managed efficiently and in a sustainable manner.

1. Talent:
   • 2 PHD
     1. Onubogu Nneka Obianuju (Graduated) (Non-Malaysian)
     2. Sheikh Abdul Hameed Ayubkhan (Graduated) (Non-Malaysian)
   
   
   • 4 Master
     1. Png Wen Hao (Graduated)
     2. Hoo Yu Heng (Graduated)
     3. Lee Wei Tang (Graduated)
     4. Shelley Ong Tze Xien (Graduated)


2. Publication:
   
   • Article in Indexed Journals
     1. Cascaded Acoustic Wave Sensors Based on Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser Dynamics for Intrusion Zone Identification (2017) - ISI Q1
     2. Pipeline Monitoring and Leak Detection Using Loop Integrated Mach Zehnder Interferometer Optical Fiber Sensor (2018) - ISI
     3. The Dynamic Behaviour of Non-Polarized Erbium-Doped Fiber Ring Laser Under Experimental Pump Modulation (2020) - ISI
     4. An Adaptive ICA based Cross-Correlation Techniques for Water Pipeline Leakage Localization Utilizing Acousto-Optic Sensors (2020) - Q1
     5. Adaptive Independent Component Analysis-Based Cross-Correlation Techniques along with Empirical Mode Decomposition for Water Pipeline Leakage Localization Utilizing Acousto-Optic Sensors (2020) -
     6. Real-time Leak Localization of Pipeline by Acoustic Emission and Variational Mode Decomposition (2020) -
     7. Modelling public intention to reduce Non-Revenue Water: An expanded version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (2020) -
   
   
   • Conference Proceedings
     1. Application of Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser Dynamics in Pipeline Leak Detection and Location Estimation (2018) - ISI
     2. Pipeline Monitoring and Vibrational Sensing Using Loop Integrated Mach Zehnder Interferometer Optical Fiber Sensor (2018) - ISI
     3. Acoustic Vibration Sensor Based on Macro-Bend Coated Fiber For Pipeline Leakage Detection (2017) - ISI
     4. Application of Fiber Laser Dynamics in Leak Detection for Operating Water Pipeline (2018) - ISI
     5. Acoustic Emission Source Localization On A Pipeline Using Convolutional Neural Network (2018) - SCOPUS
     6. Wave velocity selection for leakage localization of water pipeline by Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) (2019) - SCOPUS
     7. Improvement of acoustic water leak detection based on dual tree complex wavelet transform-correlation method (2019) - SCOPUS
     8. Combatting The Non -water Revenue Problem In Johor And Negeri Sembilan: A Case Study On Ranhill Holdings Berhad And Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan (2020) - Scopus
   
   

• Impact on Quadruple Helix
  1. SPAN and SAINS
  2. Rainhil Water Services Sdb Bhd
  3. Air Selangor Holdings Bhd
  4. Consumer/public