Water losses, infrastructure damage, and rising operational costs rarely start with something visible. In most sanitation systems, underground leaks evolve silently, altering soil moisture, weakening the ground, and compromising pipelines long before any sign appears on the surface.

That is exactly where Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) becomes strategic. By measuring physical properties of the soil and how they change over time, SAR makes it possible to detect anomalies that indicate leaks and infiltration long before they create operational or structural impacts.

Why underground leaks are so difficult to detect

Water and sewage networks are buried, often beneath roads, buildings, and hard-to-access areas. Visual inspections cannot reach these layers, and point-based excavation or testing methods cover only small portions of the system.

Meanwhile, water escaping from a pipe changes the physical behavior of the soil, causing:

• Localized increases in moisture
• Compaction and loss of stability
• Micro-subsidence and ground settling
• Progressive degradation of infrastructure

Without continuous, large-scale data, these processes are only noticed once the damage is already significant.

How SAR detects leaks in the subsurface

Radaz’s SAR radar measures physical variations in the ground with high precision, making it possible to identify patterns that indicate the presence of water where it should not be.

With SAR, it is possible to:

• Identify areas of irregular moisture around pipelines
• Detect soil deformation caused by continuous infiltration
• Map structural variations that reveal the exact location of a leak
• Monitor how the problem evolves over time

These data turn underground networks into a measurable system, where anomalies are detected before they become critical failures.

From detection to maintenance prioritization

Instead of reacting after failures occur, SAR allows sanitation teams to work based on real risk.

Radar data helps to:

• Prioritize segments with a higher probability of failure
• Plan interventions with greater precision
• Reduce non-revenue water losses
• Avoid unnecessary excavation
• Protect roads, buildings, and the population

For utilities and concessionaires, this means greater operational efficiency, fewer disruptions, and more predictable financial performance.

Applications for Sanitation, Infrastructure, and Utilities

Leak detection using SAR is especially valuable for:

• Water and wastewater utilities
• Urban infrastructure concessionaires
• Sewage and drainage operators
• Municipalities and public agencies
• Engineering and network maintenance companies

In all of these contexts, radar turns an invisible problem into actionable data.

Want to reduce losses and increase the efficiency of your operation?

If you work in sanitation, infrastructure, utilities, engineering, or urban management, Radaz can help your team detect underground leaks with precision, reduce waste, and make decisions based on real physical data.

We transform radar data into actionable information to protect assets, optimize maintenance, and improve your business results. Talk to us to learn more.