Digital Transformation for the Water & Utilities Sector

About the Course

The digital water market is on a steep growth trajectory, outpacing the broader municipal water and wastewater sector over the next decade. Becoming a digital water utility is necessary for addressing aging infrastructure, increasing water scarcity, stress on water systems, urbanization, and extreme weather events.

Optimising water resources represents a huge investment opportunity. When water companies globally lose $40 billion a year in revenue because of non-revenue water (NRW), the water industry is custom-designed to benefit from emerging digital transformation technologies, garner new efficiencies, and generate a quantum leap in deliverables.

Advancements in technology have compounded with time, raising opportunities to resolve water issues with a digital transformation. The new tech-savvy generation entering the workforce is expected to accelerate digital transformation into a “no-collar” workforce, a hybrid human/machine environment that continually adapts and learns new skills as technology inevitably evolves.

This 5-day practical Digital Transformation for the Water & Utilities Sector training course will highlight the digital utility and how it uses data insights to do predictive maintenance and continually improve processes and outcomes. These improvements reduce operational costs, optimise asset management and enhance revenue. It also demonstrates how the digital utility can service its customers better with reliable water and extensive information, such as consumption, predictive billing, and conservation.

Core Objectives

The delegates will achieve the following objectives:

• Create and maintain business value with AI
• Appreciate important points for the digital transformation Journey
• Hone futuristic digital skills
• Redesign operational technologies to reduce costs and improve deliverables
• Apply big data analytics and predictive maintenance

Training Approach

This training course will utilise various proven adult learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding, comprehension, and retention of the information and innovative methods presented, including theoretical concepts, team and individual exercises, case study analyses, educational videos, and real-life applications. Delegates will receive thorough training on the subjects covered by the program. 

The delegates will also learn how to develop a modern information flow and control model for water utilities. The delegates will also be acquainted with the design of digital systems and optimise decision-making processes.

The Attendees

Regardless of their stage in digital adoption, every water and utility organisation aims to solve problems and create novel opportunities with a digital perspective that brings them one step closer to being a sustainable digital utility.

Specifically, this will be highly beneficial to (but not limited to) the following roles:

• Operation Supervisors
• Engineering Disciplines
• Instrumentation and Control Technicians
• Compliance and Safety Officers
• Cybersecurity Analysts
• Services and Field Operators
• Data Management
• Digitalisation Contractors
• Computer Security Analysts
• Planning and Business Analysts
• IT Specialists and Managers
• Employees working in Saline Water Conversion, Water Transportation, and National or Commercial Water Companies
• Leaders and Managers in the Utilities Sector, including Water and Power
• Professionals working in the domain of Operational Technology and Digital Transformation

Daily Discussion

DAY ONE: OVERVIEW OF THE DIGITAL INDUSTRY

• Definitions of Digital Transformation
• Why does Digital Transformation fail in the Water & Utilities Sector?
• Water & Utilities Digital Transformation Challenges and Solutions
• Digital Transformation Misconception
• Important Points for the Digital Transformation Journey
• The Digital Water & Utilities Sector

DAY TWO: MACHINE LEARNING & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• Definition ML &AI
• How to create and maintain business value with AI
• AI Benefits for the Water & Utilities Sector
• AI Applications for the Water & Utilities Sector
• Organisational and Behavioural Aspects
• Challenges in Data Acquisition and Management for Water & Utilities Sector

DAY THREE: IT & OT CONVERGENCE

• Industrial System Engineering for the Water & Utilities Sector
• Plant Information (PI) Asset Framework
• Water & Utilities PI System
• PI AF Analytics for Water & Utilities Operations
• Condition Monitoring Technology
• Predictive and Prescriptive Maintenance

DAY FOUR: PROCESS CONTROL, CONNECTIVITY, AND OPTIMISATION

• Major Challenges facing the Water & Utility Industry
• Advanced Process Control
• Beyond APC – Real-Time Optimisation
• Big Data Analytics
• Metcalf’s Law in a Network
• Moore’s Law in Integrated Circuit

DAY FIVE: CRITICAL DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

• Physical vs Cybersecurity
• The Three Linked Pillars
• Risk Management Matrix for Cybersecurity
• Cyber Operations Control Centers
• Criticality Assessment
• Emerging Trends in the Water & Utility Industry
• Water & Utility Industry in the Era of Digital