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We consider the problem of optimizing a novel acoustic leakage detection system for urban water distribution networks. The system is composed of a number of detectors and transponders to be placed in a choice of hydrants such as to provide a desired coverage under given budget restrictions. The problem is modeled as a particular Prize-Collecting Steiner Arborescence Problem. We present a branch-and-cut-and-bound approach taking advantage of the special structure at hand which performs well when compared to other approaches. Furthermore, using a suitable stopping criterion, we obtain approximations of provably excellent quality (in most cases actually optimal solutions). The test bed includes the real water distribution network from the Lausanne region, as well as carefully randomly generated realistic instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to guide the high energy proton beams inside its two 27km long vacuum rings, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, Geneva, makes use of superconducting technology to create the required magnetic fields. More than 4000 beam screens, cooled at 7–20K, are inserted inside the 1.9K beam vacuum tubes to intercept beam-induced heat loads and to provide dynamic vacuum stability. As extremely high helium leak tightness is required, all beam screens have been leak tested under cold conditions in a dedicated test stand prior to their installation. After describing the beam screen design and its functions, this report focuses on the cold leak test sequence and discusses the results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]