The web-based tool SAMDUS is an interoperable visualisation platform that provides data and analytics to all stakeholders responsible for the integrated management of sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in an urban area. The platform enables the sharing and visualisation of data from a series of sensors, models and decision support systems. It integrates the total system dynamics and facilitates real-time decision-making across all utilities and entities, increasing preparedness for high-flow events.

Challenges

The management of the urban water infrastructure is a complex multi-stakeholder mission. In many major cities, several operators are in charge of managing different parts of of the sewer network and the WWTPs. As a result, different utilities establish individual sewer management plans and control strategies but none of them has a complete overview of the total sewer and WWTP behaviour and performance. The sharing of data and decisions between stakeholders is crucial at the urban scale in order to maximise the performance of the single infrastructures and manage the networks and WWTPs in a coordinated way.

Limitations of current practices

No commercial solution exists to support decisions for urban water management with a wide stakeholder perspective. The main bottleneck is the lack of interoperability of the different infrastructure and resource management systems.

Innovation

The SAMDUS platform is a new web platform for data collection, sharing and visualisation among different urban water stakeholders. It improves data interoperability across the various systems and resources (sewer, river and WWTP) and enables coordinated decision making among a large number of stakeholders (sewer utilities, WWTP operators and water authorities).

City tests

The SAMDUS platform is implemented in Copenhagen and is connected with other innovations such as the flow forecast toolbox (digital solution 11) and the decision support system for real-time control (digital solution 12). It provides a full overview of hydraulic capacity, water quality and treatment processes to all involved stakeholders – in this case BIOFOS, HOFOR and 15 municipalities in charge of sewer management – and so fosters stakeholder engagement and rational decision making based on real-time data, accurate modelling and scenario analysis. The web visualisation platform will cover the total Copenhagen area.

Contact solution

DHI – Copenhagen – Sten Lindberg
BIOFOS – Carsten Thirsing
BIOFOS – Barbara Greenhill
BIOFOS – Dines Thornberg