System hailed as boon to detect leaky buildings

Dr Stevan Berber. Photo / Natalie Slade

An Auckland University academic is claiming a breakthrough in weathertightness detection.

Dr Stevan Berber, a senior lecturer in the department of electrical and computer engineering, said a seven-year project had resulted in the invention of a computerised system to measure wall moisture content.

The system could help leaky-home victims by getting information about where the water is coming in, how it is affecting a place and where work is needed, said Dr Berber, who has research expertise in digital communication systems.

The wireless sensor network also has an alarm system to warn when urgent action is needed to stop leaks.

But its main aim is to transmit information about leaks in dozens of points in a building to either cellphones or computers and give information to allow repairs to be made where they are most needed.

Tim Rainey, of Rainey Law, an Auckland leak litigation specialist firm, said cladding removal and taking photographs of rot held more sway in court than readings from wall probes or nodes. But he welcomed the university's work.

"Anything that gives an opportunity for people to find out whether they have a problem has got to be good," Mr Rainey said.

"But there's no substitute in terms of evidence for a hole showing damage to a building and proof of that."

Probes or nodes could also give false readings, he said, citing cases he had seen where timber was so wet and rotten that it shrank in the wall cavity and then eventually dried.

Wall probes gave clear moisture readings despite the building having hidden substantial structural and health problems, Mr Rainey said.

Dr Berber said homeowners, building inspectors or leaky-building specialists could get immediate data about where water was penetrating and its effects on a building via his system, which could be used on houses and commercial buildings and in mining, agriculture, sports, education and medicine.

He has worked with researchers from the department to develop the system, under which up to 50 nodes are installed in a building to pick up moisture content and temperatures.

The wireless system allows the nodes to communicate with each other, continuously sending out the information.

But Dr Berber said instead of manually reading data - "an inefficient and expensive procedure" that does not give immediate information - in his system, the nodes captured data immediately and could be read from anywhere in the world.

Wireless network breakthrough:

* Detects leaks in buildings.

* Nodes inserted in walls.

* First prototype developed.

* Patent for system pending.