A novel methodology for pipe grouping and rehabilitation interventions scheduling in water distribution networks

The establishment of effective medium and long-term rehabilitation strategies is essential to counter the continuous process of deterioration of the water distribution networks. A novel methodology to support pipe rehabilitation planning, including the establishment and scheduling of interventions in the medium and long-term using the graph theory, is developed, and demonstrated using a real case study. This methodology is divided into two main phases: the first is the definition of rehabilitation pipe groups according to the available budget and pipes connectivity and the second is the scheduling of these groups over time according to relevant criteria. This approach allows a clearer correspondence between the financial amounts to be annually invested in rehabilitation and a grouping of single pipes to be rehabilitated. Results demonstrate that the methodology allows a better and advanced planning of interventions when compared with the current traditional approaches applied by water utilities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A decision support system to design water supply and sewer pipes replacement intervention programs

Article number 107967Asset management in hydraulic infrastructures aims for the long-term sustainability of water distribution and wastewater networks. Strategic maintenance planning has thus been deeply analyzed in the literature for indi vidual water and sewer pipes. However, water utilities do not plan and perform replacement activities on in dividual elements, but rather on coherent aggregations of neighboring pipes. We have developed a decision support system (DSS) to help water utilities design intervention programs for hydraulic infrastructures. It in tegrates a two-stage algorithm that groups water supply and sewer pipes into practical and efficient replacement works, based upon their proximity and their priority of renewal. A multi-objective genetic algorithm optimizes the work programs configurations while integrating the water company’s strategic policy into an innovative multi-objective function. We have applied our methodology to a large water company in Spain and illustrated this application with a sensitivity analysis to determine how the company’s strategic criteria influences the resulting work configurations.Empresa Metropolitana de Abastecimiento y Saneamiento de Aguas de Sevilla (EMASESA) 273/17, 286/1

A comprehensive framework to efficiently plan short and long-term investments in water supply and sewer networks

Water supply and sewer networks are critical infrastructures that provide a basic service to society. However, these systems constantly age and degrade over time. In addition, since network infrastructures are so extensive in length, they require a significant investment in maintenance tasks. Hence, within the context of infrastructure asset management (IAM), accurately defining the most efficient investment planning possible is essential to ensure their long-term sustainability. This paper presents an original five-step comprehensive framework to successfully implement an infrastructure asset management strategy and plan long-term investments. Moreover, this methodology integrates innovative and relevant operational and convenience factors that, while provide the problem both with realism and practicality, have not been addressed so far. To illustrate the usefulness and applicability of this methodology, the case study of a large water company in Spain is presented

Improving project delivery: through the application of project management techniques

Substantial investment was made in Australian water infrastructure in the post war period in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Much of this infrastructure is now reaching the end of its usable life and will need to be replaced in the near future. However, in the preceding years a shift has occurred in the water industry from a government subsidized industry to user pays businesses (Coombs & Roberts 2007). Many regional centers have also seen decreases in population. The infrastructure that was needed to supply water to a large population is now being used to supply only a fraction of the users for which the supply network was designed (Hicks & Woods 2010). However, the outer edges of the supply network have not changed, water is pumped from a source to be treated, distributed, collected as waste water and treated at a waste water treatment facility. The infrastructure owned by water authorities is diverse in nature, spanning Civil (pipelines), Mechanical (pumps), Electrical (control systems), Chemical (water treatment) and Environmental (waste water) Engineering disciplines (Rokstad, M, Ugarelli, R 2015). Each discipline knows intrinsically well the importance of their own field of expertise, however, this can often be hard to convey to a colleague in another field. In this business environment of falling revenue and population bases, diverse and aging infrastructure profiles it is necessary that Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) projects are delivered on time and on budget. Furthermore, managing projects over a diverse range of fields can be a complex proposition which can lead to failed project delivery and increased project costs. To deliver projects in a timely manner it is important that organisation’s undertake their project work using proven project management techniques. Tracking the progress of the project through the use of ‘Key Performance Indicators’ (KPI’s) and ‘Project Dashboards’ will ensure that the project is delivered on time, on budget and meet the expectations of the organization