DIGITALIZATION OF THE COMPLETE WATER CYCLE

As individuals, we have a great responsibility, which is none other than to help ensure that future generations have access to adequate drinking water and sanitation services, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In order to make this possible, companies must commit to the digitization of integrated water cycle management..

This digital transformation will generate a huge amount of data that must be processed and put in value to help organizations and companies in the sector to make decisions. As an example, we would like to talk about some of the technologies that will help generate new solutions and use cases for the sector. Technologies such as AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), 5G, the Artificial IntelligenceDigital twins and intelligent asset management, which will help revolutionize the sector, enabling progress in the digitization process of the integral water cycle.

 

A more sustainable world is possible. But we cannot rely only on technology, but also on people. It is the human being who is able to connect all the parts to transform water management. The race for the digitalization of water is a reality and the most innovative companies and organizations have already jumped on this bandwagon.
José Fernández-Díez
Vice President Grupo Álava

For some years now, companies have been betting on the digital transformation of micro measurement, not as an end in itself, but as a way to extract value from data and turn information into business intelligence. The growing investment in AMI in order to help companies, organizations and end customers make better and predictive decisions is undeniable.

We could say that meters and their evolution are among the most important advances in the last five decades in the water world. And it is that from those times when meters evolved in fast and remote readings (walk-by and drive-by), we have reached AMI systems, where the meter has become an IoT sensor with the ability to transmit useful and fast information, digitizing the entire process.

AMI focuses not only on data collection, but also on its integration and processing using Big Data technologies. And this requires cloud platforms that monitor not only smart meters, but all other assets that manage the water cycle. Its objective is to provide value-added services where not only the data is captured but can be interpreted in a global way to make a more efficient management of water resources.

 

The meter has become an IoT sensor with capabilities to transmit useful and fast information for the digitization of the whole process.
Jorge Arancón
Product Manager at MonoM (Grupo Álava)

The digital twin is gaining more and more success stories, which guarantees its growth within water companies. The most innovative companies have already introduced its implementation in their strategic plans.

As in other industries, digitization starts with processes and assets, but the next step is to extract value from all the data, and the digital twin is the best option for this, as it integrates detailed information with general information, allowing it to adapt automatically to the profile of the user who uses it, showing him all the information he really needs.

An efficient digital twin must include an integrating platform of all information collected from assets and infrastructure, hydraulic models and advanced analytics, plus a powerful visualization system suitable for
users.

 

Its implementation requires companies to have sufficient data quality and the ability to connect these data no matter where they are and, of course, to have a simulation model permanently updated and running in real time. Without forgetting the human component, both from the point of view of contributing with an investment, as well as transforming the
organization and the minds of employees towards a much more digital and innovative mentality.
Raúl Galán
CTOat MonoM (Grupo Álava)

The digitization of integrated water cycle management will bring multiple benefits. Companies in the global water sector are betting on the transformation of their processes as a way to achieve greater water and energy efficiency. On this path, it is vital to extract value from the data obtained through sensorization, and to do so securely in order to make better decisions.

Thanks to its low latency and its ability to connect millions of devices, 5G will become a key ally for these companies.
Moreover, in a context of the search for greater transparency, this technology will help to liberate and democratize data, making it more accessible. The 21st century customer not only wants to know how much water they have consumed, but also how much is left in the reservoirs, or the quality of the water we are using in real time. 5G can provide answers to these questions.

 

These citizen demands, and others related to environmental sustainability, are also shared by the administration and are on the roadmap of the managers. For this reason, 5G, as an enabler of innovative use cases, will have a firm commitment to its deployment and adoption. The water sector has a unique opportunity to further transform the management of its most precious resource through the benefits of 5G. The range of available technologies will benefit all water managers, regardless of their degree of digitization.
Juan Gil
Unit Manager at Grupo Álava

For companies in the water sector, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become a very valuable and essential tool. Since they allow them to integrate and represent a growing flow of information, along with the sensorization of processes and assets, and infrastructures, achieving the optimal digital transformation for the improvement of management and business.

The advantage of a GIS is that it can represent any data or information that has a geospatial component. And that includes satellite images, drones, sensor information and others. With this we unify in the same tool the value of the location and its information, obtaining a means to manage it in a centralized way.

The visualizations are dynamic and collaborative, because they can be shared on different platforms, including digital twins. The great advantage is that it allows to keep updated the changes that are made in the infrastructures, allowing to have the real information at all times.

 

GIS is not a system that works independently, like many other IT/OT systems, its value is multiplied when it is connected to other corporate tools and systems, allowing to solve key aspects of daily management.
YolandaGómez
Solutions Director at Grupo Álava

• Water efficiency of irrigation: allowing irrigation communities to see in real time the volume of water at each point of the plot. Being able to adjust the flow or check possible leaks or others, by the farmer, achieving a more efficient irrigation.
• In Drinking Water supply: it helps to minimize service interruptions after an interruption, providing information about the affected branches and pipes that helps to determine which elements must be closed to minimize the consequences. Not to mention that it helps to identify and alert the end customer if the supply will be interrupted.
• In wastewater: it helps in the management of wastewater, when information from certain virus analysis in the population is crossed with the geolocation information of pipes, connections, branches and others, allowing to draw maps of contagion in populations. This is a precise way of locating areas with the highest incidence and cross-referencing them with data on population, age and other variables. And thus take action decisions.

With 40% of the world's population affected by climate change and water scarcity, there is an urgent need to respond to the challenges posed by this situation. Over the coming years, companies in the sector will continue to optimize their management thanks to these types of technologies.

The future of integrated water cycle management depends on its digitization. However, this should not be conceived as an end in itself, but as the way to extract value from data and convert information into business intelligence. Only in this way will we be able to meet the challenges of the coming decades.

MonoM is one of the leading companies in the market of sectorial AIoT cloud platforms, which inherits the 50 years of experience of Grupo Álava. With specialized solutions, it is present in markets such as Solar, Food, Wind, Defense, Automotive, Manufacturing, Oil&Gas and Pharma, among others. Its unique value proposition for water cycle management integrates the cloud platform with the most advanced IoT technology in the industry and advanced data modeling services. Its Deep Tech is based on the use of AI, Big Data, Cloud, IoT and Digital Twin.

Contact us for an analysis of your organization's challenges, we can help you!