全球Omnium：从传统水务向智能水务转型

Project summaryValencia, Spain 1 2Table of contentsIntroductionBackgroundLesson 1:Realizing the need for digital transformationLesson 2:Choosing the technologyLesson 3:Deploying the technologyLesson 4:Integrating the dataLesson 5:Managing a smart meter networkConclusion:Looking into the future IntroductionOver the last few years, several waves of innovationhave driven a remarkable improvement in efficiency inthe water industry. The development and implementationof new technologies has been the fundamental enablerbehind a qualitative shift in how processes are conductedwithin this industry.Oneof the key technological advances in the past50years has been the progressive innovation inconventional water meters, which record a customer’swater consumption and thus enable the billing process.The upgrades of these assets, which have finally becomeindustry standards, have been driven by improvementsin efficiency.In line with the principles that are shaping the industrytoday, and given the large meter networks that an average-sizedutility typically manages,the first innovationsintroduced in water meters enabled a faster and morereliable way to read water consumption. These initialefficiency requirements, which were largely driven by theadvent of widespread availability of proximity wirelesscommunications around 2008, led to the deploymentof walk-by and drive-by meters that enabled a mobiledata receiver (an operator on foot or in a car) to receiveconsumption data directly from these devices, simply bybeing close to them.This system considerably reduced inefficiencies in termsof time and money, providing optimized reading routesand eliminating the need for each operator to check eachmeter individually. This was especially useful as someof these meters were located in hard-to-reach places orinside a customer’s home.Theadvanced consumption metering system,called“SmartMetering/AMI”goesonestepfurther,incorporatingthe modern capabilities of the Internet of Things (IoT)devices and Big Data platforms. These systems do awaywith the need for a mobile proximity receiver, required inwalk-by and drive-by systems. Instead, they simply sendreadings through networks with LPWAN technologies tothe utility’s databases, which are later integrated into itsBig Data platform, where historical consumption data iscollected and mined. This document presents the lessons learned from themanagement of one of the largest smart meter networksin Europe. It begins by describing the background ofGlobal Omnium (the water utility on which this whitepaper will focus), and then moves onto the key lessonslearned at each stage of the process to digitally transformits meter network: the choice of hardware vendors, thedeployment phases, how to leverage the data obtained,and best use and optimization of the network. GlobalOmnium’s digital transformation process was enabledby the GoAigua technology, built by water experts basedon real experience in the field.The lessons learned during this process were leveragedby Idrica, who has since partnered with Xylem to combineIdrica’sproven GoAigua technology with Xylem’scollaborative and consultative global team of technicaland water industry experts.As part of the partnership, the companies offer anintegrated software and analytics platform –Xylem Vue– that enables water and wastewater utilities to connectand manage their digital assets and streamline operationsin a simple, secure and holistic view.BackgroundThe Global Omnium case study is intended to illustratethe lessons learned from the management of a smartmeter network.Global Omnium is one of the largest water utilities inSpain. Its main customers are a number of cities on thecountry’s east coast, the largest of which is Valencia. Itprovides water-related services to more than 300 citieson four continents, including water treatment and supplyto homes and industries.A couple of decades ago, Global Omnium managedaroundone million meters.This was before theinnovations that would later transform the water industryhad been developed, and before the invention of theenabling technologies that would serve as the drivers forimprovement: proximity wireless communications andthe IoT capabilities of modern devices. In addition to the high monetary and operational costs,the conventional meter network also meant that GlobalOmnium had limited control over its network of meters,which over the years had been subject to major increasesin fraud and tampering. Some meters that had beentampered with were not detected by operators in thefield. When tampering was detected, it was only becauseit coincided with the quarterly meter reading, resulting ina significant loss of revenue.In addition to these costs, there were many shortcomingsto quarterly readings since, given the size of the network,it was common to only check half of the meters and thenapply the averaged-out consumption to the remainingcustomers.This process led to many inefficiencies,and complaints increased during the q