project

Smart Water Networks

Hydroinformatics and smart water are becoming increasingly important in the water sector. Reliance on this technology is rapidly increasing and being integrated in all domains of the water sector in which data are collected and processed. Due to these rapid developments, there is a need for a systematic overview of the knowledge of hydroinformatics within the different disciplines of water research. This project provides this overview, as well as a vision and roadmap of the role hydroinformatics and smart water might play in the future development of the water sector.

The water sector in a rapidly digitising world

With the advancing digitisation and interconnectedness of society at all levels, the handling of data and the valorisation of the extracted information are increasingly important issues. Developments that leverage new technology offer the water sector opportunities to do things differently. This comes at the right time, as the water sector is faced with a wide range of challenges, such as climate change, population growth, urbanisation and migration, chemicals of emerging concern, and ageing infrastructure, for which solutions need to be found. As in other sectors, harnessing data and the versatile options of further digitisation are expected to help make the water sector future-proof. The handling of data and the valorisation of the extracted information, digital optimisation and control of systems, model-based decision-making and scenario generation are all becoming invaluable.

Information science, data science and digital technology are relatively recent additions in the workings of the water sector. Reliance on such technology is, however, rapidly increasing and stakeholders at all levels in the water sector are finding their way in this digital reality. All these aspects are encompassed by the fields of hydroinformatics and smart water management, which are concerned with the development and application of information technology in and for the water sector. The two fields are truly interdisciplinary, because they integrate knowledge and methods from any domain in which data are collected and processed.

Objectives

This project aims to give a systematic overview of the current state of knowledge on all aspects of hydroinformatics and smart water management at KWR, in the Netherlands and worldwide.

Based on this overview, we will:

  • provide a vision of the potential future development of the role of hydroinformatics and smart water in the water sector in general, and in the Netherlands in particular.
  • define the role and position of KWR in the fields of hydroinformatics and smart water.