Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has unveiled a new drone application system that uses radar technology to detect underground water leaks without digging up a single inch of soil.
TII’s system uses airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a technology more commonly associated with military and space operations, to scan deep below the Earth’s surface. The SAR-equipped drones emit high-frequency radio waves that create detailed images of the ground, allowing researchers and utility crews to locate hidden leaks in water pipelines, even in sandy, remote environments.
The technology builds on SAR’s ability to operate in all weather conditions and rugged terrains. TII’s system combines three types of radar frequencies:
- P-band for deep subsurface penetration,
- L-band for detecting subtle changes in soil moisture, and
- C-band for producing high-resolution images.
Together, these bands make it possible to locate water leaks up to 40 meters underground, especially in hard-to-access desert environments.
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“By enabling non-invasive detection of water leaks, we’ll be able to equip utility providers with intelligence that allows early detection, helping to conserve one of the world’s most vital resources,” says Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII.
This technology could be a critical for cities and rural regions alike. Leaks in underground water infrastructure often go undetected for months, wasting millions of gallons and leading to costly repairs. TII’s drone platform offers a proactive solution: find the problem before it becomes a disaster.
Beyond just saving water, it also reduces maintenance costs, extends pipeline lifespans, and minimizes infrastructure damage, delivering long-term financial and environmental benefits. According to Dr. Felix Vega, chief researcher at TII’s Directed Energy Research Center, the team has made significant advances in signal analysis and backscatter technology to fine-tune the radar’s performance in sandy terrain.
Unlike conventional sensors, TII’s drone-mounted SAR system delivers broader coverage, sharper resolution, and reliable performance across varied landscapes and weather. And because it’s modular and scalable, the system can be adapted for use in agriculture, disaster response, and desert infrastructure monitoring.
As the UAE steps up its climate resilience efforts under its Net Zero 2050 commitments, this innovation arrives at a crucial time. It reflects a growing need for smarter infrastructure monitoring worldwide — especially as cities grapple with aging water systems and the increasing impacts of climate change.
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