PDAM Tirta Sembada Sleman Regency has officially become a national pilot project for applying satellite technology to detect underground pipe leaks. This strategic initiative is the result of a research collaboration between PDAM Sleman, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and a South Korean technology consulting firm, Stellarvision.
The Proof of Concept (POC) Agreement was signed by the President Director of PDAM Sleman, Bernadus Edy Nugroho, alongside Stellarvision representative Junse Oh on Monday (13/7/2026). This collaboration is part of a mandate from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) to UGM as an Inter-University Center of Excellence to develop cutting-edge technology innovations.
Head of the UGM Strategic Management Office, Wirastuti Widyatmanti, explained that the technology used is the Saocom radar satellite. Over the next six months, the research team will perform simulations and leak identification when the satellite passes over the Sleman region. The success of this initiative is expected to lead to national-scale implementation, although there are current challenges regarding technology adaptation from a sub-tropical climate to Indonesia's high-rainfall tropical climate.
On the other hand, President Director of PDAM Sleman, Bernadus Edy Nugroho, welcomed the collaboration, as the water loss rate or Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in the region remains quite high, reaching 24.5 percent. Until now, locating leak points has often been hampered by underground pipe placement and difficult access.
Pipe leak issues in Sleman have been triggered by various factors, such as heavy vehicle loads passing over the network, tree root interference, and the aging of pipe infrastructure. The areas of Nogotirto, Bimomartani, and western Sleman are reported to be the hotspots with the highest vulnerability to leaks.
