Led by: Anglian Water
Partners: Affinity Water Limited, Airbus Defence and Space, BIM4Water, Bristol Water, Centre for Digital Built Britain, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Jacobs UK Limited, Microsoft, Portsmouth Water Limited, Skanska UK PLC, South West Water Ltd, Unity Software Inc, The University of Sheffield
The Safe Smart Systems project has been awarded £7.5 million. The project will use artificial intelligence and mathematical optimisation to improve long-term operational resilience in the face of climate change and rapid population growth. It will identify, predict, and manage vulnerabilities to reduce leakage, interruptions, and pressure issues across the whole water cycle. Safe Smart Systems focuses on the first steps to achieve autonomous control in water systems across the UK.
Our solution concept continues to be developed in preparation for testing with operational users in September. Within our innovation area, we expect our first users to be provided enhanced insight on operational performance with the ability to select the optimum operating regime. Users will also have the capability to implement certain regimes remotely.
The project has made significant progress on two key elements. 1. In May and June ten households were installed with point-of-use water sensors on 40+ appliances, and these have started the process of collecting the much-needed household water use data. Water use data over the first few weeks will provide a baseline for each household, with which the effect of the planned interventions in the coming weeks and months can be compared. Additional sensor installations are scheduled over the coming months to reach a total of 50 households. 2. In mid-June, the base-lining survey on water use perceptions was delivered (email and postal) to selected households, which will provide a second strand of base-line data, complimenting that from the households with in-home sensors.
Our solution concept continues to be iteratively developed based on ongoing user testing and feedback. Within our innovation area, we expect our first operational users to be provided with enhanced insight on system performance, notified when there are anomalies on the network and be advised on recommended response options to resolve detected issues quicker and more effectively. Users will also have the capability to implement certain response options remotely.
For more information on Safe Smart Systems, take a look at the following resources:
