Russia Expands Use of Smart Acoustic Sensors to Monitor Heating Infrastructure

A growing network of acoustic sensors is helping Russian utilities pinpoint faults in heating pipelines before they escalate.

Russian utility companies are increasingly turning to domestic IT solutions to monitor their heating networks—specifically smart acoustic sensors designed to detect early signs of pipeline damage. In St. Petersburg alone, nearly 1,500 sensors have been installed over the past two years across ten districts.

The technology works by analyzing the sound generated by fluid flow within pipes. Any deviation from the baseline noise level is flagged by the system, which can then determine the exact location and time of a potential fault with high precision. These sensors operate around the clock constantly scanning for anomalies in real time.

According to officials from Teploset St. Petersburg, the city’s main heating utility, the first pilot tests began two years ago—and the sensors quickly proved effective. In one case, an early warning helped prevent a major failure.

Now, all critical sections of the city’s heating infrastructure—particularly those supplying densely populated residential areas—are equipped with the smart sensors. The technology is also being adopted in other regions of Russia.

By identifying and responding to faults as soon as they occur, the system minimizes downtime, cuts repair costs, and ensures a more stable heat supply for millions of residents.