Adoption and Selective Use of Innovative Technologies to Extract Valuable Information

Transcription

1 Adoption and Selective Use of Innovative Technologies to Extract Valuable Information Emerging Water Technology Symposium Ontario, California Marty Laporte Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 1

2 Paradigm shift in data recovery and management Ability to rapidly extract valuable information 1) Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) 2) Drones, small Unmanned Aerial Systems (suas) What is different with AMI? What is different with Drones? What do they have in common? Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 2

3 Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) AWESOME Technology, but barriers to scaling, adoption Challenge to manage the huge data Challenge to integrate with existing systems, departments New paradigm! User interface requires collaboration, some customization, and time to learn Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 3

4 We have a Cautious Water Culture David LaFrance, CEO, AWWA, 2018 Job hierarchy, segmentation Need for strong public trust Staff already booked with duties Highly regulated Compliance a priority Metering and Billing Water Conservation Customer Services Engineering, IT Operations Regulatory Planning Aging infrastructure and workforce Departments work independently Finance Connection through AMI data! Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 4

5 BAWSCA Tech Forum, focused on AMI to advance collaboration, testing 1. What innovative technologies are in use? 2. Why technologies were selected? 3. What key questions/ issues did the use of this technology address? 4. Were the agency objectives met so far? 5. Lessons learned OUTCOME Sharing experiences Encouraging pilot studies Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 5

6 AMI is complicated: Here s why AMI provides value for: Metering and Billing Water Conservation Customer Services Engineering, IT Operations Regulatory Planning Finance Source: David Wallenstein, EBMUD, BAWSCA Tech Forum, 2015 Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 6

7 AMI Technology Who has it 2018? Future is bright, astounding value Howard Scott Lots of AMI claims, but only partly in use By the numbers (US and Canada): AMI capable ~32% endpoints have fixed network capability But, only ~10% AMI is used as automated metering infrastructure, i.e., 10M served by fixed networks Source: personal communication, 4/17/18: Howard Scott, Cognyst Advisors, tracking AMI in detail; Colleague of Don Schlenger Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 7

8 Two Examples of AMI technology filling needs for water agencies Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 8

9 SFPUC Key needs addressed by AMI for Residential Accounts Moved to monthly bills without increase in operational costs Timed with necessary meter replacement to improve accuracy Provides data for better customer service and conservation programs Business Case for AMI: ~8 year payback with 3 Key Monetary Benefits: Saves Water Improves Customer Service Reduces Operating Costs Managing all the AMI Data!! Hourly meter reads for 178,000 accounts = 1.6 Billion reads/year Source: Heather Pohl, SFPUC, BAWSCA Technology Forum Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 9

10 AMI to Manage Customer Engagement at Dublin San Ramon Services District By using utility metering data, helped water customers and managers know more about their consumption in order to enforce drought restrictions AquaHawk - AMI interface for: Ease of Use Integration Scalability Cost, $3.5 M investment in a fixed AMI network They were interested in finding out our organization's needs, not just telling us what they thought those needs were. Source: Vicki Goldman, Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 10

11 Data from AMI during drought addressed The Big Questions: How best to communicate drought limitations to customers? How are we going to measure results? How often will we need to measure results to be effective? How can we help our customers? How are we going to ENFORCE the limitations? I used too much water Source: Vicki Goldman, Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 11

12 Aerial imagery from Drones Provides valuable information for water managers Drones provide faster access to important information that allows quicker responses and risk mitigation Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 12

13 1. Unmanned Aircraft 2. Ground Control Station 3. Command and Control Link - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) - Drone Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 13

14 Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 14

15 FAA Regulatory Requirements Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 15

16 Ground Observations Dangerous work, climbing high Equipment needs: scaffolding, cherry picker, plane flights Central New York Water Authority leverages drone technology Tank Inspections Traditional Approach Source: Will Bianchini, OCWA, 2018 Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 16

17 Tank inspections using drone Aerial Inspections, Mapping using drones Tank: 250ft elevation High resolution for detailed views Orthomosaic map, from drone flyover orange lines = flight path, blue dots = photos Source: Will Bianchini, OCWA, 2018 Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 17

18 Watershed and surface water monitoring Observations from boat or shore Low angle perspective Time consuming Safety risks Hard to access areas of interest Watershed and surface water monitoring Aerial view with drone Access remote, inaccessible areas Monitor erosion Monitor inflows Monitor invasive species Source: Will Bianchini, OCWA, 2018 Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 18 Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18

19 Pipeline right-of-way inspection, measuring, mapping orange lines = flight path blue dots = photos Source: Will Bianchini, OCWA, 2018 Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 19

20 Map of right-of-way using drone Source: Will Bianchini, OCWA, 2018 Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 20

21 Assessment of snow damage to a city s main water tank: Measurements and 3-D aerial map used for repair bids Source: Will Bianchini, OCWA, 2018 Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 21

22 Using drones to detect algal blooms Scientists in Virginia say that drones can help them spot algae blooms that are harmful to the environment and to human health. There were features, like, streaks of darkness, Gong recalled Wednesday at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point. Source: Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 22

23 Using drones to assess water hazards Monitor potential and real water hazards Oroville Dam San Jose Flooding Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 23

24 Drones used to find leaks faster, saving water Source: Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 24

25 Anglian Water, UK, detecting leaks using drones with thermal sensors Source: Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 25

26 AMI vis-à-vis Drone technology: their value and ease of adoption AMI Transformative technology providing voluminous, valuable information for diverse uses But, in-house, long-term commitment large investment in time (adoption needed by teams, onboarding, paradigm shift) and cost to implement, problems with interoperability, voluminous data needing management Drones Transformative technology providing valuable information for water management, risk assessment, documentation, mapping of infrastructure But can hire to try, no long-term commitment, low risk, fewer departmental touch points Lower cost (than traditional), rapid, more frequent monitoring, measurement, and communication enabled with Drones Aerial mapping workflows reduce safety risks, improve occupational safety Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 26

27 Innovative technology for a superior water management ecosystem Adaptable Now, Later Built-in Feedback Loop Data Useful Information Solutions that enable actionable information Integrates with Existing Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 27

28 Don t let the cautious culture prevent trying new solutions Thank you! Laporte, EWTS, 5/16/18 28