Spatial Analysis of Water Main Failures

What is it about?

Understanding infrastructure failure causes and patterns is an important aspect of planning and executing renewal programs. Our methodology and analysis makes use of historical failure data and GIS clustering techniques to uncover spatial linkages and patterns of water main failures. This overall framework and results can be used to guide future leak/break mitigation efforts and other water main integrity programs.

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Why is it important?

Infrastructure is the physical framework upon which the American economy operates, and the nation’s standard of living depends. As highlighted by recent reports issued by both the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the aging of these physical assets represents one of the most critical technical, managerial, financial, and safety issues currently facing the nation. According to the most recent ASCE report, the cost of building new infrastructure to service increasing populations and expanded economic activity, as well as to maintain or rebuild existing infrastructure can be as high as one trillion dollars by 2020 and roughly five trillion dollars by 2040. Within the water sector alone, these funding shortfalls are expected to be $84 billion and $144 billion, respectively. Methodologies/technologies such as this can be used to more rationally and effectively tackle this immense public safety and financing issue.

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