KnoWaterleak Satellite AI Water Leak Risk Mapping

Tenchijin is a Tokyo space-data startup established in May 2019 and co-founded by a former JAXA satellite engineer. It combines satellite big data with AI to reveal hidden risks in land and infrastructure, and one of its main targets is water loss in ageing distribution networks, where utilities cannot afford to survey every kilometre of pipe.

KnoWaterleak, known in Japan as the Utility Space Bureau, fuses satellite observations with the utility's own pipe network data and leak history. AI correlates past leaks with their likely causes and produces a risk map at 100 m resolution that ranks areas for field investigation, so acoustic crews go first to the highest-risk zones. The service is used by Japanese municipal water and sewerage departments, and its partner list includes Premier Water Services.

• Satellite data fusion: combines Earth observation data with the utility's network records and leak history.
• AI cause analysis: correlates past leaks with environmental and network factors to estimate leak likelihood.
• 100 m risk map: ranks small zones by leak risk to prioritise field surveys.
• Survey planning: helps acoustic and field crews schedule investigations in the highest-risk areas first.
• No on-pipe hardware: delivered as a data service without installing sensors in the network.
• Wider data platform: Tenchijin COMPASS digital globe for other satellite-based analyses.

Provincial and city water supply companies in Vietnam can use the risk map to plan leak detection in districts with high loss rates. Industrial park operators with long internal networks can prioritise pipe inspections. Water utilities planning pipe replacement can combine the map with asset data to target renewal budgets.

Local authority projects have achieved up to 65% lower inspection costs and up to 85% shorter survey duration, according to the product page. Utilities can focus limited leak detection crews on a 100 m risk map instead of sweeping entire networks. The service uses existing satellite and network data, so no sensors need to be installed on pipes.

Non-revenue water remains high in many Southeast Asian cities, and water companies in Vietnam are under pressure to bring losses down through district metering and active leak detection. Satellite and AI screening is emerging as a low-cost first layer that narrows where scarce field crews should search, and the company reports interest from Southeast Asian cities.

Tenchijin Inc. was established on 27 May 2019 and is headquartered in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, led by CEO Yasuhito Sakuraba; co-founder Yasutoshi Hyakusoku is a former JAXA engineer. The company describes itself as a JAXA Venture. KnoWaterleak reports more than 100 contracts in Japan as of September 2026 and has received awards including the Digital Transformation Award Japan and the Global Space Application Award.