Cybersecurity is a growing concern today, and the risk is increasing. Historically,
WSP control systems were not designed with security in mind, and while this
alone doesn’t make them vulnerable, considerations must be made when digitising
an existing system with older applications and tools. Increasingly, there are threats
around the critical control systems, especially those that control water flows, so
treatment works and other key infrastructure are potential security risks.
10 Summary
In a game-changing period of rapid technological transformation, smart networks are
at the forefront of investment plans for UK water companies as part of a progression
to a circular economy [6]. Technological advancements allow water companies to
gather more information about their networks and assets than ever before. Extra data
provides new opportunities for asset maintenance and event analytics. Digital water
will bring automation and connect the sector to the Internet of Things. Technologies
like data analytics, cloud computing, augmented intelligence and blockchain provide
new capabilities to analyse, automate, correct in real time, predict and minimise
risks. Edge computing will help make IoT roll-outs more integral and core to the way
businesses work in coming years.
Water utilities are investing in new technologies that improve customer service,
enhance efficiency and drive resilience. A smart water network is a fully integrated
set of products, solutions and systems that enable water utilities to remotely and
continuously monitor and diagnose problems, pre-emptively prioritise and manage
maintenance issues and remotely control and optimise all aspects of the water
distribution network using data-driven insights.
When considering artificial intelligence, cloud and the latest sensor technology
from the standpoint of a water utility, many are still struggling with paper reports,
so there remains a long road ahead. The digitalisation of water is no longer optional.
It takes an entire ecosystem to digitise a utility, including innovation partners
and supply chain providers. By ‘digitising the utility’, metered account holders can
grow more involved and act on valuable knowledge on their usage, costs and
conservation strategies.
With AI becoming more prevalent across industries, there is a growing need
to make it broadly available, accessible and applicable to engineers and scientists
with varying specialisations. Engineers, not just data scientists, will drive the
experimentation and adoption of AI in water industry applications. Complexity
of larger datasets, embedded applications and bigger development teams will drive
solution providers towards interoperability, greater collaboration, reduced reliance
on IT departments and higher productivity workflows.
Data Science Trends and Opportunities for Smart Water Utilities
23
WSP control systems were not designed with security in mind, and while this
alone doesn’t make them vulnerable, considerations must be made when digitising
an existing system with older applications and tools. Increasingly, there are threats
around the critical control systems, especially those that control water flows, so
treatment works and other key infrastructure are potential security risks.
10 Summary
In a game-changing period of rapid technological transformation, smart networks are
at the forefront of investment plans for UK water companies as part of a progression
to a circular economy [6]. Technological advancements allow water companies to
gather more information about their networks and assets than ever before. Extra data
provides new opportunities for asset maintenance and event analytics. Digital water
will bring automation and connect the sector to the Internet of Things. Technologies
like data analytics, cloud computing, augmented intelligence and blockchain provide
new capabilities to analyse, automate, correct in real time, predict and minimise
risks. Edge computing will help make IoT roll-outs more integral and core to the way
businesses work in coming years.
Water utilities are investing in new technologies that improve customer service,
enhance efficiency and drive resilience. A smart water network is a fully integrated
set of products, solutions and systems that enable water utilities to remotely and
continuously monitor and diagnose problems, pre-emptively prioritise and manage
maintenance issues and remotely control and optimise all aspects of the water
distribution network using data-driven insights.
When considering artificial intelligence, cloud and the latest sensor technology
from the standpoint of a water utility, many are still struggling with paper reports,
so there remains a long road ahead. The digitalisation of water is no longer optional.
It takes an entire ecosystem to digitise a utility, including innovation partners
and supply chain providers. By ‘digitising the utility’, metered account holders can
grow more involved and act on valuable knowledge on their usage, costs and
conservation strategies.
With AI becoming more prevalent across industries, there is a growing need
to make it broadly available, accessible and applicable to engineers and scientists
with varying specialisations. Engineers, not just data scientists, will drive the
experimentation and adoption of AI in water industry applications. Complexity
of larger datasets, embedded applications and bigger development teams will drive
solution providers towards interoperability, greater collaboration, reduced reliance
on IT departments and higher productivity workflows.
Data Science Trends and Opportunities for Smart Water Utilities
23