Operational Digital Twins In The Urban Water Sector: Case Studies
Introduction
Summary The need to handle increasing amounts of data while improving capital and operational efficiencies has directed the attention of the water sector towards advanced digital tools such as operational digital twins. Digital twins can be seen as combinations of models and real-time data that provide a digital representation of a specific part of the water system’s behaviour. The aim of this white paper is to highlight how
digital twins can help the water industry to improve performance of its infrastructure. The white paper presents two case studies where
online digital twins are used for operational decision support: one in a sewer network and the other in a water resource recovery facility.
Due to advances in instrumentation and the increasing availability of online data and computing capacity for utilities (e.g. via cloud computing), the development of digital twins has recently attracted large interest in the urban water sector. This interest is primarily driven by two trends in our industry: i) the increasing amount of data available at our facilities; and ii) the business drivers around both improved capital and operational efficiency targets. The amount of data available at many facilities now exceeds the amount that most operational staff can utilise in their day-to-day operations. Digital twins can take those data and present them in terms that staff can use effectively on a day-to-day basis (Garrido-Baserba et al., 2020). The second driver towards efficiency relates to the ability of a digital twin to go beyond conventional PID (i.e. proportional–integral–derivative) control, using model-based control and data-driven optimisation. This improvement has implications for capital expenditure since more reliable control can result in reductions in conservatism, and thus lower capital expenditure (Stentoft, 2020).
Operational Digital Twins In The Urban Water Sector: Case Studies
Introduction
Summary The need to handle increasing amounts of data while improving capital and operational efficiencies has directed the attention of the water sector towards advanced digital tools such as operational digital twins. Digital twins can be seen as combinations of models and real-time data that provide a digital representation of a specific part of the water system’s behaviour. The aim of this white paper is to highlight how
digital twins can help the water industry to improve performance of its infrastructure. The white paper presents two case studies where
online digital twins are used for operational decision support: one in a sewer network and the other in a water resource recovery facility.
Due to advances in instrumentation and the increasing availability of online data and computing capacity for utilities (e.g. via cloud computing), the development of digital twins has recently attracted large interest in the urban water sector. This interest is primarily driven by two trends in our industry: i) the increasing amount of data available at our facilities; and ii) the business drivers around both improved capital and operational efficiency targets. The amount of data available at many facilities now exceeds the amount that most operational staff can utilise in their day-to-day operations. Digital twins can take those data and present them in terms that staff can use effectively on a day-to-day basis (Garrido-Baserba et al., 2020). The second driver towards efficiency relates to the ability of a digital twin to go beyond conventional PID (i.e. proportional–integral–derivative) control, using model-based control and data-driven optimisation. This improvement has implications for capital expenditure since more reliable control can result in reductions in conservatism, and thus lower capital expenditure (Stentoft, 2020).
Module 2 Operation And Maintenance Of Water Supply System
Introduction
Water Supply in India is now previewed as community based demand driven system, under which it is essential to enhance capacity of local
community residing in villages and small towns to develop and manage their own water supply systems. Role of community groups is to ensure effective and participatory implementation of water supply system in their village/town, water quality control, financial management and effective operation and maintenance of water supply system established. Hence, it is evitable that such community groups are aware about the
basics of water supply system, operation and maintenance of water assets and water supply system as well as basics of sanitation and waste management. This training course series has been formulated in order to enhance capacity of community groups for enhanced operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation systems in their village/town. Module on “Operation and Maintenance of Water Supply System”
provides insights on methods for O&M of water supply system for its effective functioning.
Module 2 Operation And Maintenance Of Water Supply System
Introduction
Water Supply in India is now previewed as community based demand driven system, under which it is essential to enhance capacity of local
community residing in villages and small towns to develop and manage their own water supply systems. Role of community groups is to ensure effective and participatory implementation of water supply system in their village/town, water quality control, financial management and effective operation and maintenance of water supply system established. Hence, it is evitable that such community groups are aware about the
basics of water supply system, operation and maintenance of water assets and water supply system as well as basics of sanitation and waste management. This training course series has been formulated in order to enhance capacity of community groups for enhanced operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation systems in their village/town. Module on “Operation and Maintenance of Water Supply System”
provides insights on methods for O&M of water supply system for its effective functioning.