International Journal of Information Technology (IJIT) – Volume 6 Issue 5, Sep-Oct 2020

RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS

Design of a Scalable LoRa Technology Model for Water Loss

Detection
Stephen Kipkoro [1], Kirori Mindo [2], Nelson Masese [3]
[1] [3]
Department of Computer Science, Kabarak University
[2]
Department of Computing and Informatics, Laikipia University

ABSTRACT
Water Audit in most water service providers in Kenya continues to be a challenge due to the designs being used to monitor and
audit water loss. This necessitates the need to design a Long range prototype th Stephen Kipkoro at enables audits to be
executed remotely, affordably and is an adaptable and efficient model specifically designed to manage data and provide
solutions to long-lived water loss. The main objective of this study is to design a long range WPAN or Wireless Sensor
Network (WSN) model based on IEEE 802.15.4g LoRa standard for the purpose of water loss detection. The specific objective
of the study is to design and evaluate a scalable long-range model to detect water loss in real time, remotely and accurately.
Research design will include an actual experiment, expert interviews and literature review to develop a scalable, iterative and
flexible model. The methodology and design to be used in this study will be PPDIOO network design lifestyle approach. The
study will design a network simulator - NS2 so as to rapidly design and develop the model and use it to evaluate and validate
the prototype. LoRa is a wireless technology that offers a better solution over other technologies like WiFi, Bluetooth,
2G/3G/4G, RFID and ZigBee to provide the best applicable model for water loss detection and management.
Keywords: Water loss, Long Range, Wireless Sensor Network Model, PPDIOO

I. INTRODUCTION
Water service providers have contributed to poor
performance due to unattended loss in the distribution network
designs and at the customer’s premises (Hirvi & whitfield,
2015) [1]. Piped water connections to premises still the most
affordable and safe system of water provision (Heymans C.,
2014)[2] there is need to strengthen service providers to
ensure water loss are controlled for affordable and quality
water provision. Arising from these scenarios there is need for
effective design technological strategies in water telemetry,
most appropriately through a wireless radio system for data
transmission within area of jurisdiction to detect, measure,
reduce or minimize leaks consistently for the growth of water
service companies (S., 2015) [3].
The current water supply network strategies are costly,
inaccurate, time-consuming way of detecting loss (Huang et
al. 2010). Wireless Sensor Networks provide the technology
for cities to more accurately monitor their water pipe systems
and identify their greatest water loss. Cities that are addressing
water leakages with sensor technology are generating high
savings from their investment. Tokyo, for example, has
calculated they save $USD170 million each year by detecting
water leakage problems early.Hydrosense is a low–cost
approach which provide information on water flow using
pressure waves propagated to sensors when valves are open or
closed using Bluetooth technology (Froehlich, 2009) [4].
transmissions (more than 10 km in rural areas) with low
power consumption (Semtech, 2012). LoRa RF1276 provides
pure loRa p2p (peer to peer) a low cost, ultra-low power,
high performance transparent technology for water loss
detection. LoRaWAN network architecture can be deployed
using star- topology unlike mesh topology in Zibgee
technology. It has IP based -network stations at physical layer
to relay data between the sensor nodes and the network server.
There are quite a number of wireless technologies which
include WiFi, Bluetooth, 2G/3G/4G, RFID, ZigBee and many
others that allow IoT network deployment. This depends on
the Network coverage, energy consumption of devices and
transmission bandwidth (Khutsoane O., Isong B., Abu-
Mahfouz A.M., 2017).
While there are wide range of technologies in remote
telemetry; the design to be used can improve water balance
and water loss control (Lauridsen M., 2017) [6]. The LoRa
architecture has gateways and nodes which connect thousands
of devices with sensors to detect loss for longer distance. The
need to have a common smart meter for standard information-
sharing remotely using LoRa technology is the best pet
despite of many other competing technologies .The possibility
to connect such devices remotely will increase high proceeds
and opportunities to most water service providers (Rezgui,
2015) [7].

LoRa (Long Range), technology is a digital wireless data I.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT
communication IoT technology developed by Cycleo of The current approach designs employed by water companies
Grenoble, France which enable a very-long-range in Kenya to detect water loss, whereby field officers
physically check for leaking pipes or illegal siphoning is slow,

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 International Journal of Information Technology (IJIT) – Volume 6 Issue 5, Sep-Oct 2020
unreliable, inefficient and inaccurate thus compromises water
accountability. There is need to design a technological
solution that is scalable and cost-effective to solve this
problem. LoRa technology model will be designed to track
water distribution from the source 5-10 km in real-time. Being
a long-range low power battery, the power source using a
secure and standardized smart metering technology, can last
for more than 10yrs. This LoRa will be designed to have a
Wireless Personal Area Networks and the simulation and
prototype will be evaluated for performance analysis.
III. RESEARCH QUESTION
How will a scalable long-range model be designed to detect
water loss?
IV. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this study is to design a scalable long-
range star WPAN model for the purpose of detecting water
loss.
V. LITERATURE REVIEW
The design for LoRaWAN networks are of standard IEEE
802.15.4g thus speeds up IoT applications which can be
deployed anywhere. The LoRa model consists of Network and
application layers where both complete communication
protocol in a Wireless Sensor Network (Yusuf, 2014). Asset
tracking remotely forwards information through nodes and
gateways to network server. The Network server then
forwards the same information to application server The LoRa
Technology enables GPS best for detection of water loss with
high capacity of connectivity at low cost. The use of this
technology helps to save operation cost as well as minimal
battery replacement (Agapiou.A., 2016)[8].
The Gateways connected to power source (not on the battery)
receive data from LoRa sensors, and sends over IP to the
server. The LoRa embedded sensors transmit data to the LoRa
gateways which are connected to the internet via the standard
IP protocol i.e. server, a network or cloud.LoRaWAN network
is more secured as it encrypts data twice i.e. data sensors
encrypted by the nodes and IP before being sent to gateways
as normal IP network to the server network. The following
.
Figure 1: Prepare Plan, Design, Implement, Operate, and Optimize Network Design and Implementation
methodology (Source: Cisco)
ISSN: 2454-5414 www.ijitjournal.org
keys ensures security; Unique Network key (EUI64) based on
network level while Unique Application key (EUI64) ensure
end to end security on application level and finally the
(EUI128) is the Device specific key. The Network layer has
unique encryptions feature of 128-bit Network Session Key
shared between the end-device and network server. Network
server solution that can be hosted on the Cloud eg. The LoR-
IOT Cloud or The Things Network (TTN) (Lauridsen M. V.
B., 2017).
The WPAN LoRa technology is more secure and standard
hydro sense smart meter for tracking water from water points
to the clients registered with the company (Brown, 2015)
[9].LoRa technology can be able to detect upto 30 miles apart
within area of jurisdiction where it measures and evaluates
water amount relationship and the resulting pressure
(Morison, 2015) [10]. The easy to install LoRa technology is
more powerful when connected to existing or new networks
(Ibrahim, 2015)[11].
Smart meters using LoRa technology sensors stand the best
bet for water loss detection (Almazyad, et al., 2014) [12] The
LoRa technology meter sensors network can be operated by
the 3rd party water companies’ i.e between the clients and
water utilities. The company intermediary can provide this
smart meter, collect consumption data and metering
infrastructure sold as service (Sanchez-Iborra R., 2018) [13].
I. METHODOLOGY
The design of the LoRa sensor WPAN network is to be
addressed using IANA licensed uncast global addresses
of 2340: AEBF: 3040: /48 networks. The design will be
done after prepare and plan stages of PPDIOO life-cycle.
The network topology diagrams, addressing plan,
transmission media using Sensors are put in place to meet
current business and technical requirements of water
companies for loss detection.
The methodology defines the continuous life-cycle of
services required for a network (Cisco, 2010) Figure 1
below. This methodology is ideal as it helps to lower
ownership total cost of network, improves business
agility, enhance network availability, speeds up
applications access and services.
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 International Journal of Information Technology (IJIT) – Volume 6 Issue 5, Sep-Oct 2020
The design stage follows initial requirements derived from
the planning phase to drive the activities of the network
design specialists. The network design specification is a
comprehensive detailed design that will meet current
business and technical requirements of water companies. It
will be incorporated to support availability, reliability;
security, scalability and performance specifications for
implementation activities. The stage will guide and propose
scalable solution architecture of a higher level according to
the financial assessment on whether it can meet the
budgeted cost. The design phase includes network topology
diagrams, addressing plan, transmission media, Sensors
and both end and intermediary devices involved in the set-
up.
II. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
The LoRa based remote model will consist of the following
modules;
i. Water Device calibration module to identify
physical addressing of each water meter.
ii. ModBus conversion of analogue water flow to
digital reading
iii. LoRa radio frequency module to aid joining,
connection and collection of protocol and user
data within the WPAN.
The meter with LoRa Wireless Sensor Network sends and
receives data from Network layer or Network Coordinators
(NC) (Yu, Wu, Han, & Zhang, 2012)[14]The smart meter
LoRa module is connected to the network server remotely
sends data to water companies. The water company Central
Offices (WCCO receives data from Network servers and
forwards to a software system which will analyze and
detect any water loss. The software system has the
following modules.
i. Data collection module which will interface with
networks
ii. Data analysis module will generate reports from
smart LoRa meter sensors on water loss.
The water service providers receive the analyzed
information and provide mitigation on the water loss.
These remote communications enables analysis,
monitoring, loss detection and effective provision water to
clients.
The technical model will have the following components;
1. The LoRa WPAN made up of smart water meters and;
2. A gateway router to forward data to the cloud.
3. The WPAN-to-WAN that will relay data for to be used
by the water service providers Central Office (CO).
ISSN: 2454-5414 www.ijitjournal.org
Conceptual Framework
VI. CONCLUSION
To achieve a conclusive comparison study, a scalable
sensor LoRa technology connected to a network in real
time. There is also need to further investigate security
mechanisms for better confidentiality, authentication and
availability of the loRa system for detecting water loss.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
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