What can digital twin technology do for smart water management?
Smart water management has become an important direction for water resource management and urban water system management in recent years.
Through the development of virtual 3D representations of water systems and the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and cloud computing, we can now implement sophisticated systems for real-time monitoring, precise management, and optimized utilization of water resources. These advancements significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of water management operations.
Hightopo Software utilizes its self-developed “HT for Web” graphic engine to build a range of visualization solutions for smart water from the city-region level, to the water plant and pump station level, and down to the local process level.
Analysis
City-level Management
This demonstration showcases a 2D smart water management map, utilizing Xiamen city as a case study. The design departs from conventional satellite mapping by implementing a streamlined hexagonal color block layout to represent the urban landscape. Different color blocks are used to indicate the locations of pump stations, water plants, sewage treatment plants, water sources, and water source protection areas. Rivers are depicted using minimalist lines, making the urban water monitoring system clear and straightforward.
The dual-sided 2D data dashboards present real-time statistical information through integration with backend systems. With water supply scheduling and operational data, we deliver comprehensive operational analytics for various subsystems, including water supply, drainage, and sewage treatment networks. This approach culminates in a sophisticated water management framework that incorporates sensing, diagnostics, scheduling, proactive alerts, and adaptive corrections.
Water Volume Data Visualization
HT integrates data from IoT devices that monitor water storage, quality, pressure, and flow. This information is presented in real-time on interactive dashboards, emphasizing critical metrics for various water management facilities. The system’s homepage provides a comprehensive overview of location data for all reservoirs, water plants, and pump stations. Users can efficiently access detailed information by selecting specific areas of interest.
Operational Data Visualization
Based on the water management requirements of various regions, through comprehensive collection of information such as regional water usage trends, water supply volume, and total water fee revenue, we accurately obtain dynamic information on the service population, water plants, reservoirs, and pump stations in each area. This data is then used to generate intuitive visual charts, thereby improving management efficiency.
Water Plant Level Management
The application of digital twin technology in wastewater treatment plants provides a new perspective and tool for wastewater treatment and management, displaying real-time conditions within the facility on web pages, and offering platform support for real-time monitoring and diagnostics, process optimization, predictive maintenance, equipment management and maintenance, and simulation training.
Comprehensive Monitoring
HT utilizes advanced digital modeling techniques to create comprehensive representations of wastewater treatment facilities. This approach provides users with a detailed overview of operational conditions across all locations. The platform features intuitive navigation controls, enabling users to manipulate the virtual environment effortlessly. Through standard mouse and keyboard inputs, operators can seamlessly rotate, pan, and adjust the zoom level of the digital model, enhancing their ability to monitor and analyze plant operations effectively.
Data dashboards on both sides of the screen display key indicator parameters for plant equipment management, energy consumption management, real-time alarms, and operational supervision. The collected data information is converted into corresponding graphical information, visually presenting comprehensive indicators for the entire plant.
Functional Area Monitoring
The management monitoring module provides a localization feature for all production areas across the facility. After locating a specific area, the system automatically opens the external structure of the building, revealing the actual layout of internal facilities and equipment. Clicking on equipment allows users to view its current real-time operational data. Combined with key process data extracted from fixed panels on both sides, this helps users monitor plant operations in real-time.
Pipeline Monitoring
For the layout of various pipelines in wastewater treatment plants, the “HT for Web” engine is used to create 1:1 3D rendering models for each pipe. The system uses different colors to display various network types, marking the flow directions of various pipelines in sewage treatment, such as sewage lines, sludge lines, and chemical dosing lines. This enhances users’ understanding of the plant’s pipeline layout and improves overall wastewater treatment plant management efficiency.
The pipeline network scene is presented using a high-tech night view style, with perspective design applied to surrounding related models to highlight the pipeline network effect.
Pump Station and Pump Room Level Management
Water Pumping Station
In response to market demands in the water industry, HT has developed a digital twin system for pump stations. Based on the IoT concept, this system employs information technology to achieve real-time monitoring of pipeline operation indicators, including network liquid levels, flow rates, water quality, gas, and pump station operating status, ensuring the safe and efficient functioning of the pipeline network.
Water Supply Pump Room
The water supply system refers to a complex of reservoirs, pumps, pipelines, and other engineering works that provide water to different departments according to specific quality requirements. In this pump room scenario, dynamic lines represent the entire process of water flowing from the reservoir through the water supply pipes.
Entering the localized 3D scene of the pump room enables the display of equipment spatial positions as well as comprehensive presentation of data such as water supply flow, pump frequency, inlet and outlet pressure, as well as water quality parameters like turbidity, pH value, and residual chlorine. This provides a visual monitoring interface for the actual operation of the water supply system.
Process Flow SCADA
Equipment process SCADA uses graphical and visual representation methods to present complex equipment status, process flows, and operational steps in an intuitive and easy-to-understand manner for operators and managers. This can significantly enhances people’s understanding and control capabilities of production processes, making it an indispensable part of modern industrial automation and information management.
Water Treatment Plant Process Visualization
We design the equipment for key process stages of the water treatment plant as 2.5D SCADA graphics, connecting the equipment according to the process system diagram. By adding key node operational data displays to the interface, we can precisely monitor the entire process flow, ensuring stable operation of all plant equipment and achieving significant improvements in water treatment quality and efficiency.
Pump Station Process Visualization
HT visualization supports displaying the urban pump room distribution in a “single map” . When hovering the mouse over a pump station node, it shows key data such as current flow rate and water level. According to the legend, the meanings of different types of icons and pipelines can be understood.
The process of each pump station is drawn as a SCADA diagram, displaying the real-time operational status of processes such as pump rooms, clean water tanks, and chemical dosing rooms. Utilizing HT 2D rendering technology, equipment such as sludge valves, liquid tanks, valves, pipelines, and other production-related structures are visually presented, with key instrument readings overlaid in corresponding areas, and different colors used to distinguish the functions of various pipelines. The system can control the start and stop of pumps and valves based on monitored water tank levels, achieving equipment self-control.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Process Visualization
The wastewater treatment plant process flow is: coarse screen → fine screen → primary sedimentation tank → biological tank → secondary sedimentation tank → ceramic filter media → rapid filter → disinfection tank → reuse.
The “HT for Web” graphics engine, combined with a 2.5D design style, renders the key nodes of each process stage in the wastewater treatment plant and connects them to the underground pipeline system for dynamic representation, making it easy for users to understand the connections between different process stages.
The HT dashboard supports integrating video streams in formats such as M3U8, FLV, and RTSP. Users can switch between different cameras to view real-time video, and the system supports displaying data and video on the same screen.
“HT for Web” also supports video fusion, which uses graphic image processing techniques to overlay video footage with 3D scene graphics. The video signal is calibrated according to the virtual camera position, angle, and field of view of the 3D scene, achieving a consistent visual effect between the video image and the scene, thus accomplishing video fusion. Through video fusion, more intuitive and comprehensive visual information can be provided, helping users better understand and analyze real-time surveillance video in the scene.
Conclusion
Smart water management technology in city-level, water plant-level, and pump station-level management not only improves the efficiency of management and operations, ensures sustainable use of water resources, but also enhances the reliability and security of the system. As technology continues to develop, the application of digital twins in the water industry will become increasingly deep-rooted, providing a powerful tool for achieving smarter, more efficient, and greener water management.
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