- New AI-based applications for more efficient operation of water infrastructure are available in the Siemens Xcelerator Marketplace.
- These allow easy integration into existing infrastructure without specialized knowledge.
Siemens, a leading technology company, has expanded its software portfolio for the water industry, allowing its clients to optimize the operations of their plants using artificial intelligence, without the need for technical knowledge. These self-service solutions enable users to address the most pressing issues in water and wastewater operations: reducing water loss, preventing sewer contamination, and ensuring the reliability of treatment assets.
The effect of these applications also contributes to greater overall sustainability, as the world’s water resources can be better protected. “Digital technologies have not yet been widely adopted in the water sector until now,” says Anja Eimer, General Manager of the Global Water Business at Siemens. “The current OT and IT device landscape is complex, skilled workers are scarce, and the business benefits of many digital applications have often been unclear. “With our new software offerings, we are addressing these conditions and enabling water utilities to perform AI-based operational analytics.”
The new offerings include scanning solutions with pre-integrated hardware and software. This means that AI-based analysis applications have been combined with corresponding sensors from Siemens to make installation processes as easy as possible and achieve faster analytical results. To this end, Siemens has launched the new SIWA Leak Finder and SIWA Blockage Predictor applications, available in the Siemens Xcelerator Marketplace.
AI to combat pipe leaks and blockages
The SIWA Leak Finder app uses data from smart flow meters to reduce water losses from pipe leaks by up to 50%. The app’s AI analyzes flow data and identifies leaks as small as 0.2 liters per second. Although data from any flow meter can be used for the application, the integration of the Siemens Sitrans FM Mag8000 sensor eliminates the need for specialized knowledge or services from Siemens for installation.
Clogged pipes in sewage systems can lead to pollution that also affects homes and the environment. Infiltration and entry (I&I) reduce the effectiveness of the wastewater network and can lead to costly investments. Siemens’ SIWA Blockage Predictor app applies AI to sewer water level data collected by sensors such as the Sitrans LR110 radar level transmitter to detect blockages, infiltration and inflows. With a single sensor installation, the application can be used in case of network overflows or in recording cameras. The app finds nine out of ten crashes and saves users time by automatically generating performance reports for regulators.
Both the SIWA Leak Finder app and the SIWA Blockage Predictor can easily process and analyze operational data from smart sensors via a cloud connection, without the need for additional IT knowledge. In this way, the sensor data is available in the respective app within two hours.
App AI is automatically trained and deployed with sensor data from the day of installation. Cybersecurity is also taken into account in the design of the applications. Mendix, Siemens’ low-code platform, can also be used to create interfaces with the IT system of the respective company, allowing application data to be connected.
With Siemens Water Applications (SIWA) designed specifically for the water and wastewater industry, operators can optimize energy efficiency, prevent water losses, reduce water pollution, and improve predictive maintenance measures, among other things.
