From digital twin paradigm to digital water services

Abstract

In the context of water distribution networks (WDNs), researchers and technicians are actively working on new ways to transition into the digital era. They are focusing on creating standardized methods that fit the unique characteristics of these systems, with a strong emphasis on developing customized digital twins. This involves combining advanced hydraulic modeling with advanced data-driven techniques like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning. This paper begins by giving a detailed overview of the important progress that has led to this digital transformation. It highlights the potential to create interconnected digital water services (DWSs) that can support all aspects of managing, planning, and designing WDNs. This approach introduces standardized procedures that allow a continuous improvement of the digital representation of these networks. Additionally, technicians benefit from DWSs developed as QGIS software plugins. These services strategically enhance their understanding of technical decisions, improving logical reasoning, consistency, scalability, integrability, efficiency, effectiveness, and adaptability for both short-term and long-term management tasks. Notably, the framework remains adaptable, ready to embrace upcoming technological advancements and data gathering capabilities, all while keeping end-users central in shaping these technical developments. HIGHLIGHTS The paper explores the digital transformation in water distribution network management.; It emphasizes the opportunities offered by ICT/IoT and GIS/BIM tools, hydraulic modeling advancements, and AI algorithms for planning and management tasks.; The paradigm is implemented as digital water services, enhancing engineering awareness and supporting management activities.;

Keywords

• advanced hydraulic modeling
• decision-making support
• digital twin
• digital water services
• water distribution network management
• water distribution networks