Application of the differentiation process into the correlation-based leak detection in urban pipeline networks

•This paper investigates the use of differentiation process in the cross-correlation for water leak detection in urban pipeline networks.•The proposed DIF method changes the characteristics of the pipe system acting as a band-pass filter.•Anticipated advantages of the DIF involve its ability to sharpen the peak of the cross-correlation, and to reduce the interfering effects due to the background noise, resonances and reflections.•Field test data are used to show the performance of the proposed method.