AI revolutionises water management with real-time monitoring of ageing infrastructure, says expert

KUCHING (Oct 24): Frontier artificial intelligence (AI) tools have revolutionised water management by providing real-time monitoring of ageing underground infrastructure and enabling informed decision-making on asset management strategies.

In stating this, International Water Association (IWA) executive director Dr Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy said the seamless efficiency of AI is better suited for large-scale, real-time analysis, unlike the traditional data analysis.

“Although a vast amount of data has historically been collected in the water sector, only 15 per cent of it has been utilised,” he said when highlighting the new technology’s potential in processing and using the data more effectively.

“I would say the most interesting area is asset management. Now, we’re seeing the utilisation of data through machine learning algorithms that detect patterns and help inform decision-making based on these patterns.

These algorithms, he explained, take disparate data and create meaningful insights, essentially reanimating assets in the process.

“People are now placing sensors in pipe networks to measure not just pressure and flow, but also stresses and strains in the environment.

“We are integrating this data with information from weather, soil conditions, and traffic loads above the pipes and connecting it with unstructured data such as communications on social media where people share challenges they are facing with their infrastructure.

Dr Kalanithy said this in a reply to a question during a Q&A session, following his keynote address titled ‘Navigating the Future of Water: Challenges and Opportunities’ at the Borneo International Water and Wastewater Exhibition and Conference (BIWWEC) 2024 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.

“This AI-driven capability allows for real-time monitoring of ageing underground infrastructure, much like watching parents grow older, so you can see them age in real time,” he said.

This, he added, is significant due to our limited knowledge about our underground infrastructure.

The ability to utilise both structured and unstructured data to better understand how this infrastructure is ageing is a crucial area where we see extensive application of AI, particularly through machine learning rather than language processing, he explained.

Dr Kalanithy also addressed the emergence of AI in empowering utilities that lack capacity.

Smaller utilities are beginning to utilise this technology to develop strategies such as leakage management where previously, these utilities relied on consultants for guidance, he said.

The AI tools like ChatGPT, he said, could be utilised to implement leakage management strategies, create District Metered Areas (DMAs) and install pressure reduction devices to manage system pressure.

“Although this information can be quite ‘alien’ to smaller utilities, they can ask AI to explain these concepts in simple terms, as if to a six-year-old. This approach helps them grasp the necessary steps.

“This empowerment is placing them in a stronger position when engaging consultants as they now have a clearer understanding of their needs, and we are seeing a lot of exciting developments in this area,” he added.