Smart Manhole Monitoring System

Manholes in district heating systems are hard to access and monitor, making it difficult to detect leaks, flooding and temperature issues.

Wioniq’s smart monitoring system collects real-time data from these hidden areas – measuring, as standard, water levels, humidity and temperature around the clock.

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Challenges

Risks of unmonitored manholes

Heat Loss and Corrosion

District heating manholes often suffer from water ingress and flooding due to leakage or rainwater intrusion, which can lead to corrosion of pipes and valves.

Poor insulation within the manholes and pipes results in significant heat loss, reducing the overall energy efficiency of the district heating system.

The warm and humid environment inside the manholes promotes mold growth and accelerates material degradation, particularly of metal and electrical components.

Operational and safety risks

Safety is also a major concern, as maintenance workers face risks associated with confined space entry, including the presence of hot water, hazardous gases or low oxygen levels.

Maintenance itself is challenging because of difficult access, high labor costs, and the lack of remote monitoring technologies.

In many cases, the structural integrity of older manholes is compromised, with concrete or metal parts showing signs of wear, cracking, or collapse over time.

Environmental Impacts

Escaping hot water or steam may heat the surrounding soil over time, potentially disrupting underground ecosystems or damaging nearby infrastructure such as cables and pipes.

During colder months, steam escaping through manhole covers can condense and freeze on nearby roads or sidewalks, creating hazardous icy conditions for pedestrians and vehicles.

In densely populated urban environments, these effects pose both environmental and public safety concerns

How It Works

The intelligence behind smart manhole monitoring

Step 1

Real-Time Data Collection

Water levels

Measures the water level inside the manhole to detect incoming water, drainage failures, and potential flooding risk. As standard we recommend at lest two levels.

Temperature

Measures the air temperature inside the manhole to identify risk of freezing, excessive heat, or conditions that could lead to condensation. A secondary pressure sensor is measuring water temperature at the bottom in the manhole in case of a leak.

Humidity

Monitors the relative humidity inside the manhole to detect conditions that may increase the risk of corrosion, condensation, or component degradation.

(Optional) DHN pipe temperature

Monitors both the supply and return temperatures of the district heating pipeline. These values provide insight into system performance, efficiency, and heat transfer.

(Optional) DHN pressure

Monitors both the supply and return pressure of the district heating pipeline. These values provide insight into system performance and efficiency.

(Optional) Pipe insulation resistance

Measures insulation resistance in district heating pipes to detect moisture intrusion in the insulation and sends alarms for preventive maintenance.

Step 2

Wioniq Platform & Instant Alerts

All collected data is sent directly to the Wioniq IQ platform and the Energy IQ module, where it’s processed and visualized in real time. The intuitive dashboard gives a clear overview of all connected units and their status in the Map widget. When thresholds are exceeded or unusual activity is detected, instant alerts are sent via SMS, email, or via integrated systems such as SCADA, GIS/NIS -enabling quick, informed decisions and minimizing downtime.

Energy IQ - Connect, monitor and control - All in one place

The Wioniq IQ Platform EnergyIQ connects your sensors, devices and control systems in a single, intuitive interface. It processes real-time data, turns it into actionable insights and lets you take control instantly, whether in the cloud or on-premises.

Insights Through Historical Data & Trends

All collected data is securely stored and analyzed over time, turning real-time monitoring into valuable insights. By identifying trends and recurring patterns, the platform helps predict potential issues before they occur. Historical data supports smarter maintenance planning, reduces operational costs, and drives long-term system reliability.

Identify

Historical readings make it easy to see which locations require attention first. The platform highlights deviations, recurring issues, and long-term shifts that are otherwise hard to detect.

Predict

By analyzing water level trends, and temperature developments over time in combination with local weather data (option), the system reveals emerging risks early, enabling proactive maintenance instead of reactive fixes.

Optimize

Historical insights help you schedule interventions at the right time, reduce unnecessary site visits, and extend asset lifetimes. By combining trends, alarm history, and load patterns, you gain a clear view of how the network performs over time, supporting better decisions and lowering operational costs.

FULL PROVIDER

Complete support. Every step.

Installation to operation

With Wioniq, you’re never on your own. We support you through every stage - from initial setup to full operation - ensuring your monitoring system performs flawlessly from day one.

Assistance when you need it

Our dedicated team helps with installation, configuration, and data interpretation. We make sure your system is optimized, accurate, and delivering the insights you need.

Built for reliability and results

Combining robust hardware, a powerful reliable platform, and committed service, Wioniq delivers a complete, dependable solution for smart infrastructure monitoring.

COMPATIBLE DEVICES

Works with industry-leading devices.

EDGE A1e (3:th generation)

Edge A1e ensures security and efficiency in sensitive environments by being able to monitoring different kind of important data such as temperature, pressure, liquid levels, flow, and humidity in a specific are. It provides instant alerts for flooding, overheating, or intrusion, enabling quick response and damage prevention. Designed to detect leaks in insulated pipelines, it’s a powerful tool for district heating and cooling monitoring. The Edge A1e device is only available in 4G connectivity.

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EDGE W1P (4:th generation)

Edge W1P makes it possible to monitor key many different parameters — temperature, pressure, liquid levels, flow, humidity etc — with real-time alerts for flooding, overheating, or intrusion. It also can be connected to the DH pipe to detect broken or connected loops automatically, ensuring early detection of leaks or faults in district heating systems. W1P is the latest and future proof platform including cybersecurity features, 4G & NB-IoT connectivity and several new interfaces for sensors compared to the A1e platform (third generation).

EDGE W1P-mini (4:th generation)

SUCCES CASE / SWEDEN / WIONIQ NORDIC

How Wioniq enhanced Öresundskraft's district heating monitoring system.

Modernizing district heating monitoring for efficiency and savings.

Öresundskraft's primary challenge was the high cost of replacing old pipes due to undetected issues. The company aimed to implement technology that could help detect problems early, preventing the need for complete replacements of their asbestos cement pipes. By identifying irregularities early, Öresundskraft sought to maximize the lifespan of their infrastructure while avoiding expensive repairs.

WIONIQ DISTRICT HEATING APPLICATIONS

Related applications.

Pipe leak monitoring system

District heating and cooling networks rely on underground pipes that are often difficult to access — making leaks costly and hard to detect. Wioniq’s real-time monitoring provides continuous insight across the network, enabling early leak detection and precise localization. This proactive approach reduces energy loss, prevents damage, and ensures reliable system performance.

Portable pipe leak monitoring

For rapid on-site inspections and targeted diagnostics, Wioniq’s portable sensor offers the flexibility to assess any part of the district heating and cooling network without permanent installation.

Contact us

Get in touch with us today and learn how our innovative solutions can transform your operations by putting actionable insights in your hands.

Dan Wärja

Commercial Manager

Wioniq Nordic

+46 702 38 50 04

dan.warja@wioniq.com