Integrated sensor and management system for urban waste water networks and prevention of critical situations

• Published in: Computers, environment and urban systems Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 65 - 80
• Main Authors: Sempere-Payá, Víctor-M., Santonja-Climent, Salvador
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Communication systems; Exact sciences and technology; Heterogeneous networks; Machine to Machine (M2M); Management; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Measurements. Technique of testing; Networks; Sensors; Sewerage. Sewer construction; Urban development; Utilities Networks; Waste water; Water cycle; Wireless sensor networks (WSN); Europe; Spain; Utilities Networks; Heterogeneous networks; Machine to Machine (M2M); Wireless sensor networks (WSN); Water cycle; System architecture; Measurement sensor; System design; Case study; Machine machine relation; Town; Wireless network; Integrated system; Urban waste water; Sewer network; Advanced technology; Sensor array; Monitoring; Communication
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2011.07.001
• ISSN: 0198-9715

► Real case of communication technologies developments for city waste water management. ► M2M “All IP” heterogeneous networks of static and mobile advanced sensing systems. ► Transmission of high quality mobile video systems for pollutants and blockages detection. ► Quick deployment protocol development for WSN applied to risk situations prevention. ► Final system ensures citizens security and environmental commitment. This work describes the design and implementation of improvements to the monitoring system of an urban waste water network, resulting in more efficient management of the system. To achieve this objective, the latest communications technology has been incorporated into heterogeneous networks and sensor systems. This technology includes mobile systems, which take measurements and transmit images in real time, an intelligent platform for processing and management of variables, and the implementation of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) designed with specific protocols and tools that allow the rapid deployment of the network and allow measurements to be taken in emergency situations. The sensors in this type of installation are extremely important for the management of the system as they allow us to collect information and make decisions with sufficient time to deal effectively with critical situations such as flooding or overloading of the waste water system, or environmental problems such as dumping of possible pollutants, as well as to make the best use of the water cycle. The solution presented here automates large portions of the processes, minimizing the possibility of human error, and increasing the frequency and accuracy of the measurements taken, ensuring a robust communication system covering all the elements involved to provide ubiquity of information, and finally gives an application layer to manage the system and receive alerts.