Zapopan, Jalisco; July 17.- A team of researchers from the Guadalajara campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico ( Universidad Panamericana ) received funding from the Jalisco Scientific Development Fund to Address Social Challenges (FODECIJAL, a program of SICyT-COECYTJAL) 2026 to develop a smart platform that will monitor water consumption and detect hidden leaks in urban water networks using non-invasive technology.
The project, titled “Development of a Platform for Analyzing Water Consumption and Detecting Anomalies in Urban Networks Using Non-Invasive Instrumentation,” aims to contribute to more efficient water resource management through smart sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), and real-time data analysis, offering a technological solution to the growing water stress facing Mexico.
Applied research to optimize water consumption
The team in charge consists of Dr. Hugo Briseño Ramírez, director of the Center for Hydro-Adaptive Cities; Dr. Leonardo Valdivia Parga; Héctor López, M.A.; and Carlos Ornelas, M.A., who are specialists in engineering, infrastructure, and water management.
Securing this funding not only attests to the team’s scientific excellence but also aligns with the strategic objectives of the university’s Center for Hydro-Adaptive Cities, serving as a direct bridge between applied research and urban sustainability.
How does the platform work to detect water leaks?
The technology developed integrates flow sensors, pressure measurement, telemetry, and analytical intelligence to continuously monitor the performance of water distribution networks.
According to Dr. Hugo Briseño, the primary objective is: “to develop a real-time digital monitoring platform that combines flow and pressure telemetry with geospatial visualization of the internal water distribution network, thereby enabling the optimization of water consumption, the predictive detection of anomalies, and the assessment of the impact of behavioral or infrastructure interventions.”
The central hypothesis of the project is that the digitization and continuous monitoring of hydraulic variables (pressure and flow rate), combined with analytical algorithms, significantly reduce losses due to invisible leaks.
The system will use wireless sensors connected via Internet of Things (IoT) protocols to measure flow and pressure; this data will be processed using algorithms capable of identifying invisible leaks before they cause significant water loss.
In addition to this plan, Héctor López made a crucial operational contribution by proposing the installation of analog pressure switches to monitor pressure at strategic points in the network in real time.
“These two parameters (pressure and flow) make it possible to detect leaks with greater precision in older networks without the need for blind excavations or prolonged service interruptions,” explained Héctor López, M.A., noting that “brief, controlled” and “localized” service interruptions will be scheduled only where it is absolutely essential to work on the pipes.
The University: A Living Laboratory
This research will be conducted at the Guadalajara campus of the National Institute of Technology ( Universidad Panamericana ) to demonstrate the benefits of this system in preventing invisible leaks.
“This project turns the university campus into a living lab. By moving from theory to the actual implementation of our own infrastructure, we demonstrate institutional coherence through concrete actions,” emphasized Dr. Hugo Briseño.
The project is expected to take between 12 and 18 months to complete, divided into three phases:
- Diagnosis and creation of a digital twin of the water distribution network.
- Installation and calibration of smart sensors.
- Monitoring, data analysis, and system validation.
One of the most significant technical challenges will be to synchronize pressure and flow measurements to avoid false alarms caused by normal fluctuations in consumption.
A pilot program with operational bases
Upon completion of the funding period, the researchers will deliver a pilot system featuring a real-time monitoring dashboard and an alert system for maintenance staff.
For the institution, a direct benefit will be the establishment of a robust baseline for sustainability reporting, integrating automated and verifiable data as direct evidence in audits and renewals of high-impact certifications such as Socially Responsible Company (ESR) and the international UI GreenMetric ranking. From an operational perspective, this pilot project will serve as a methodological foundation for extending monitoring to irrigation systems and the fire suppression network.
The ultimate significance of this research lies in its potential to be transferred from the laboratory to the urban environment. In a context where unaccounted-for water (ANC) exceeds 40% in many Mexican cities due to physical leaks, this innovation offers an accessible technological alternative to increase the efficiency of water distribution networks and contribute to more sustainable water management.
As Dr. Hugo Briseño concludes, the project aims to have an impact that extends beyond the walls of academia, bringing economic, environmental, and direct supply benefits to the population through a fairer and more efficient distribution of water resources.
Research Strengthens Innovation at UP
According to Abraham Baltazar León Soto, M.A., Head of Institutional Research at the Guadalajara campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico ( Universidad Panamericana ), this achievement reflects the consolidation of an institutional strategy focused on attracting external funding for high-impact projects.
“This achievement confirms that the University of the Andes ( Universidad Panamericana ) is making steady progress in its institutional strategy to attract external research funding. This is not an isolated event, but rather the result of sustained efforts by researchers and administrative departments who, after participating in previous calls for proposals—including a winning project in this very same call last year—have leveraged that experience to strengthen new proposals.
"This accumulated experience strengthens the University’s ability to successfully compete for external funding and continue to advance impactful research projects. For this reason, we invite more researchers from the UP community to join us and participate in these and other calls for proposals."
With projects like this, the Universidad Panamericana reaffirms its commitment to generating knowledge, developing technologies for sustainable water management, and creating innovative solutions that contribute to the well-being of cities and the protection of the environment.
Learn about the Center for Hydro-Adaptive Cities at the National Institute of Hydrology, Water Resources, and Sanitation ( Universidad Panamericana), a hub where research and innovation generate solutions for sustainable water management: https://ciudadeshidroadaptativas.up.edu.mx/
