Problem to address
Ireland's gas network is evolving to support a lower carbon energy future. Methane emissions from gas infrastructure are a potent greenhouse gas and reducing them is an important part of climate action. Today, much of the network is monitored through periodic surveys, providing only a snapshot in time.
DIGIGAS is developing an intelligent digital twin that combines network data, environmental information and advanced analytics to support continuous methane monitoring, improve operational efficiency and provide greater insight into network performance.
The proposal
DIGIGAS is developing an intelligent digital twin to improve methane monitoring across Ireland's gas network. The project combines real-time methane sensors, Earth Observation data and historical network information to create a continuous monitoring system. Using AI and predictive analytics, DIGIGAS aims to detect unusual emissions, generate early warnings and support faster, data-driven decisions. An operational dashboard will provide network insights, helping target inspections, improve repair efficiency and optimise the use of resources across the network.
Meet the DIGIGAS team
Dr. Abdalkarim Gharbia
Dr. Abdalkarim Gharbia is a Senior Technical Officer in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction at Atlantic Technological University...
Dr. Abdalkarim Gharbia
Dr. Abdalkarim Gharbia is a Senior Technical Officer in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo and Principal Investigator of the DIGIGAS project, A GeoAI-Powered Digital Twin of Ireland’s Renewable Gas Infrastructure for Dynamic Decarbonisation Planning, funded through the Research Ireland–Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge.
Dr. Gharbia is a civil and environmental engineer with a PhD in Environmental Engineering and research expertise spanning environmental monitoring, remote sensing, GIS, GeoAI and machine learning. His research focuses on applying advanced geospatial, artificial intelligence and digital technologies to environmental and infrastructure challenges.
Through DIGIGAS, Dr. Gharbia is leading the development of a GeoAI-powered digital twin that integrates Earth observation, methane sensing and artificial intelligence to support methane monitoring and the decarbonisation of Ireland’s renewable gas infrastructure.
Dr. Nasim Eslamirad
Dr. Nasim Eslamirad, PhD in Architecture and Urban Studies, Research Fellow and Urban Planning Educator at University College Dublin (UCD),...
Dr. Nasim Eslamirad
Dr. Nasim Eslamirad, PhD in Architecture and Urban Studies, Research Fellow and Urban Planning Educator at University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland, Visiting Researcher Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia, Co-PI of DIGIGA Project.
Dr. Eslamirad is an interdisciplinary urban planning researcher and educator with over ten years experience across research, teaching, interdisciplinary project delivery, and professional built environment practice.
Her background spans architecture, urban studies, planning, and built environment, with expertise in spatial planning, spatial analytics, machine learning, data driven approaches in sustainable urban development, urban analytics, urban design, digital planning, sustainable mobility, and the energy transition.
Dr. Awais Akbar
Dr Awais Akbar leads data and AI development for DIGIGAS under the Research Ireland–Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge. He is...
Dr. Awais Akbar
Dr Awais Akbar leads data and AI development for DIGIGAS under the Research Ireland–Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge. He is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Atlantic Technological University, working with Gas Networks Ireland to develop AI methods and digital systems for gas infrastructure monitoring and decarbonisation planning.
He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Trinity College Dublin and an Erasmus Mundus Joint MSc in Advanced Systems Dependability from Maynooth University (Ireland), the University of St Andrews (Scotland) and the University of Lorraine (France).
He has around six years of research experience in AI and data science. His doctoral research at the ADAPT Centre explored the development of personalised AI agents through simulation and human feedback. His previous research at Inria in France and Maynooth University covered natural language processing for hate-speech detection and bias in personalised web search.
Meet our Innovation Steering Members
Professor Clive Deadman
Clive began his career as an engineer in the African mining and UK automotive sectors. He then spent nine years...
Professor Clive Deadman
Clive began his career as an engineer in the African mining and UK automotive sectors. He then spent nine years in private equity, working with investors and innovators to grow a range of new ventures in energy, environmental services and clinical care. He later spent 20 years with United Utilities (£100 billion assets) and Electricity North West (£20 billion assets).
In recent years Clive has written two books and served as Chair and Non-executive Director of several regulatory and asset-owning organisations, as well as Professor of Water and Energy at Cranfield University.
He has extensive experience of living and working internationally.
PJ Rudden
With an honours degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UCD, PJ Rudden has over 40 years’ experience in gas,...
PJ Rudden
With an honours degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UCD, PJ Rudden has over 40 years’ experience in gas, water and waste management. In 2020, he was appointed Chair of the Construction Sector Group (CSG) Subgroup in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and an External Member of the Project Ireland 2040 Delivery Board reporting to the Minister.
The Gas 2025 Report by (Sofregaz/MCOS/Penspen/JPKenny) published in 2000 recommended several pipeline supply options including a Second Gas Interconnector and a Gas Pipeline to the West from Dublin-Athlone-Galway-Limerick which resulted in a total pipeline length of 335km, the longest pipeline in the Irish state.
Another major project around this time was Dublin Waste to Energy Project which was designed to replace many depleted landfills around the country and to replace these with a state-of-the-art thermal treatment plant at Poolbeg in Dublin Port with a future possibility now of a district heating project in the Docklands area.
P J Rudden sought to explore gas innovation in UK with Scotia Gas Networks (SGN) who were responsible for Scotland and Southern England south of the River Thames and tendered successfully for Network Innovation Competition (NIC) with the Regulator Ofgem. The project comprised the design, manufacture and field testing of new inspection and repair robots. The breakthrough robotic systems were developed to allow gas utilities to identify mains and extend the life of large diameter cast iron pipeline infrastructure.
In 2006, P J Rudden was also appointed by the National Standards Authority of Ireland to chair the TC 5 Committee to update Irish Gas Standard IS 328. The TC5 Committee completely updated the new document which was finally published in 2021.
He was also Project Director for the Irish Scottish Links Energy Study (ISLES) for the Governments of Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland (2010-2014) which led transboundary policy formulation across Regulatory, Market, Technology, Environmental and Planning workstreams for the future development of offshore energy (wind, wave and tidal). He reported directly to the Head of Energy, Scottish Government and to the ISLES Technical Committee of the three Governments and presented the recommendations to the three Ministers meeting in Glasgow in 2014.
Throughout his career, he was also President of Engineers Ireland and President of the UCD Engineering Graduates Association. He was also Director of the EU Commission Secretaire for the European Green Capital Award for the most sustainable cities across Europe.