Methods and apparatus to detect leaks

1. A leak probability analysis apparatus associated with a utility distribution system having sensors, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver to receive spectral recording data associated with spectral recordings measured at the sensors;

a storage device to store the spectral recording data; and

a processor to:

calculate spectral energies associated with the spectral recording data,

calculate deviations of the spectral energies,

normalize the spectral energies based on the respective deviations,

generate a leak probability distribution of the utility distribution system based on the normalized spectral energies, and

filter the leak probability distribution via a Gaussian filter.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor is to generate a two-dimensional heat map associated with the leak probability distribution.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor is to calculate a position of a leak based on the leak probability distribution based on known utility system geographic data.

4. A method comprising:

calculating, by executing an instruction with a processor, spectral energies corresponding to spectral recordings measured at sensors of a utility distribution system;

calculating, by executing an instruction with the processor, deviations of the spectral energies;

normalizing, by executing an instruction with the processor, the spectral energies based on the respective deviations;

generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a leak probability distribution of the utility distribution system based on the normalized spectral energies; and

filtering the leak probability distribution via a Gaussian filter.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 , further including selecting, by executing an instruction with the processor, a bin frequency of the spectral recordings.

6. The method as defined in claim 4 , further including removing, by executing an instruction with the processor, at least one of the spectral energies that have a value below a spectral energy threshold.

7. The method as defined in claim 4 , wherein calculating the spectral energies includes calculating a spectral energy of a spectral recording.

8. The method as defined in claim 4 , further including determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, a position of a leak based on the leak probability distribution.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 , wherein determining the position of the leak includes correlating the leak probability distribution to known utility system geographic data.

10. A tangible machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause a processor to at least:

calculate spectral energies corresponding to spectral recordings measured at sensors of a utility distribution system;

calculate deviations of the spectral energies;

normalize the spectral energies based on the respective deviations;

generate a leak probability distribution of the utility distribution system based on the normalized spectral energies; and

filter the leak probability distribution via a Gaussian filter.

11. The machine readable medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to remove at least one of the spectral energies having values that are below a spectral energy threshold.

12. The machine readable medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to determine a position of a leak based on the leak probability distribution.

13. The machine readable medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the position is determined based on correlating the leak probability distribution to known utility system geographic data.

14. A leak probability analysis apparatus associated with a utility distribution system having sensors, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver to receive spectral recording data associated with spectral recordings measured at the sensors;

a storage device to store the spectral recording data; and

a processor to:

calculate spectral energies associated with the spectral recording data,

calculate deviations of the spectral energies,

normalize the spectral energies based on the respective deviations,

generate a leak probability distribution of the utility distribution system based on the normalized spectral energies, and

filter the leak probability distribution via a convolution filter.

15. A method comprising:

calculating, by executing an instruction with a processor, spectral energies corresponding to spectral recordings measured at sensors of a utility distribution system;

calculating, by executing an instruction with the processor, deviations of the spectral energies;

normalizing, by executing an instruction with the processor, the spectral energies based on the respective deviations;

generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a leak probability distribution of the utility distribution system based on the normalized spectral energies; and

filtering the leak probability distribution via a convolution filter.

16. A tangible machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause a processor to at least:

calculate spectral energies corresponding to spectral recordings measured at sensors of a utility distribution system;

calculate deviations of the spectral energies;

normalize the spectral energies based on the respective deviations;

generate a leak probability distribution of the utility distribution system based on the normalized spectral energies; and

filter the leak probability distribution via a convolution filter.