No two water utilities are the same. But most face common challenges: limited time, limited budgets, and increasing pressure to act fast.
Smarter water networks start with better decisions, and plugins are a powerful way to support them. That’s the vision behind Qatium Marketplace: an open, collaborative, and developer-friendly ecosystem where tools and plugins built by experts can be embedded directly into a utility’s workflow.
It’s exactly what drew George Milis, co-founder of PHOEBE, to Qatium. With years of research behind their algorithms, they had breakthroughs ready to go. But getting them into the hands of operators required the right delivery model, and Qatium Marketplace offered the missing link. Within weeks, they developed an accessible, scalable plugin that brings smarter decision-making directly to operators.
Qatium x PHOEBE: The Pressure Sensor Placement plugin
As utilities embrace digital transformation — and with that, a heavy investment in water sensors — they often begin with where exactly they should place sensors. This isn’t just a technical decision, but a financial one too: poor placement means missed data, longer leak detection times, and a lower return on investment.
Thanks to the Qatium Marketplace, Qatium SDK, and strong collaboration between PHOEBE and Qatium, the Pressure Sensor Placement plugin removes that type of guesswork. With features like advanced simulations, leakage scenario modeling, sensitivity analysis, multi-objective optimization, and visual insights, it acts as a decision-making tool for operators to help them:
Overall, the plugin helps utilities maximize their sensor investments, without the need for in-house data science teams or costly consultancy projects. The result is more actionable data, faster leak detection, and optimized monitoring.
Meet PHOEBE: Applied research for the water sector
PHOEBE is a research-driven technology company based in Cyprus, dedicated to bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and practical solutions for critical infrastructure.
Since 2016, the team, composed of leading scientists and engineers, has focused on developing and advancing technological solutions that address global challenges.
Rooted in collaboration and global partnerships, PHOEBE brings academic excellence into applied innovation, delivering smart tools that empower utilities to act faster, respond smarter, and operate more sustainably.
How Qatium Marketplace made the Pressure Sensor Placement plugin possible
From day one, the Qatium Marketplace and SDK gave PHOEBE everything it needed to quickly get the plugin off the ground. The SDK was easy to work with, the documentation was clear, and Qatium’s tech team was on hand whenever questions came up.
Within just a few weeks, PHOEBE had a working prototype. A few months later, they had a fully polished, production-ready tool. “The support from Qatium’s team was excellent,” said George. “We knew what we wanted to build, and the platform made it easy to get there.”
Early on, the two teams engaged in a collaborative workshop to explore several plugin ideas. Out of some strong contenders, they landed on pressure sensor placement as the first use case as something that could deliver immediate, tangible results for utilities.
From there, development moved quickly. “This is exactly what Qatium’s open model is built for,” said Eduardo Rodes, Qatium’s Chief Experience Officer. “We’re giving partners like PHOEBE the tools and support to turn great ideas into real solutions the industry can start using right away.”
Already in use, and already delivering results
Utilities using the plugin now have the answer to a pressing question: “If we only have budget for 20 sensors, where should we place them to get the most value?”
The plugin offers multiple optimized sensor layout options based on the utility’s specific network. The goal is always the same: minimize the time needed to detect leaks and improve the monitoring of the entire system.
That goal is being met, with the plugin already proving successful with customers. Utilities are using the plugin to guide their sensor rollout plans, extend coverage, and improve operational insights. This isn’t just a win for large utilities, but for small and mid-sized ones too. “We’re enabling access to advanced technology without the barriers,” said Eduardo. “That’s the power of open, collaborative development.”
Open water: Problem-solving via collaboration
The success of this collaboration shows what’s possible when deep domain expertise meets an open, developer-friendly platform.
Together, Qatium and PHOEBE are not only improving how utilities monitor their networks, but also helping redefine how the water sector innovates. By making smart tools more accessible, they’re ensuring every utility, no matter its size, can benefit from next-generation technology.
Partner with us
At Qatium, we strongly believe that joint efforts, especially in the realm of digital water, are vital for tackling the current and future challenges facing utilities and the broader water sector.
To learn more about Qatium’s partnerships, visit our partner page. Visit PHOEBE’s website for more information on their solutions.
