Rotterdam first to implement Smart Urban Water data network
An extensive data network has been developed to collect data on sewer capacity in urban areas. After successful pilots in London and Paris and Delft in the Netherlands, the Smart Urban Water data network will now be implemented on a large scale in the city of Rotterdam.
Smart Urban Water, co-ordinated from TU Delft in the Netherlands and led by Professor Dr ir Nick van de Giesen, relies on sensors plugged into the internet. Commenting on the project, he said: “Thanks to the internet we can make optimal use of the available infrastructure, such as pumps and storage space, to regulate sewer capacity effectively. This allows cities to operate their sewers as one integrated system.”
By providing urban areas with an extensive data network, Smart Urban Water helps cities to face the impact of current extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and long periods of drought by making better use of their sewer system. The Smart Urban Water data network not only offers cities a means to deal with the hydrological impact of climate change in the long run, it also helps to reduce the costs.
Van de Giesen added: “Take the Dutch sewer system as an example. Sewer life span now is 40 years. By 2040 we should replace 110,000km at a cost of €1m per kilometre. Prolonging the lifespan by 10 years by using them in a more efficient way means a saving of 25% – a great deal of public money.”
Van de Giesen described Rotterdam’s decision to implement the Smart Urban Water data network as “a logical choice”. He added: “Rotterdam is a typical lowland delta city with a sewer system that has very small slopes and is thereby prone to failure by small disturbances. Through better monitoring techniques, combined with advanced modelling, the maintenance can be tailor made.”
