A strong sense of innovation
SWIG chair Richard Luxton welcomes delegates to the 2013 Sensors in Water conference which is taking place at Nottingham Belfry Hotel on 25-26 September
Against the background of a host of legislation coming from the UK and Europe and the pressure of the current economic climate driving companies to instigate greater efficiency and seek cost-effective solutions to technological challenges, the Sensors for Water Interest Group (SWIG) remains dedicated to supporting the water industry through providing information on both traditional and
novel sensors. These are applied in all areas of the industry that require the application of sensing technologies, such as in environmental monitoring, water and waste treatment and process industries.
Since becoming chair of SWIG I have seen a real vibrancy in the water industry to innovate and develop new technologies for sensing applications. Not only to develop new sensors but to apply traditional sensors in new and cost effective ways.
This innovation is promoted and supported through enabling interactions between the various stakeholders such as the large water companies, small to medium sized companies and the academic community. In November 2012 SWIG recognised innovation through its Early Career Researcher Prize, which was presented at the Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring Conference. The prize was won by Andrew Nichols of the University of Bradford for his research into Monitoring of Wastewater Flows by Remote Measurement
of the Free Surface ‘Fingerprint’ and he has been invited to present his research at the SWIG Sensors in Water Conference in September. The approach to developing innovation is to encourage multi- and inter- disciplinary collaboration, embracing all members of the sensor community. SWIG membership offers the benefits of networking with leading experts from industry and academia to develop collaboration and partnership. In particular, SWIG workshops offer a cost-effective way of keeping up-to-date with sensor developments, new technologies and changes to regulations, legislation and standards that impact on control and measurement in water. SWIG maintains its mandate to provide a forum for manufacturers, end users and researchers in the sensor community to test new ideas and exchange views; providing workshops that concentrate on practical applications and current challenges for measurement and control in the water, wastewater and natural waters.
Following on from the hugely successful Sensors in Water conference held in 2011, we see the 2013 conference as being a focal event that underpins our vision to work with the sensor community supporting innovation and partnership.
Book your place at Sensing in Water 2013 online by visiting
www.swig.org.uk or contact Rosa on 01934 830658, email
rosa.richards@swig.org.uk
Making good sense
As the Sensing for Water 2013 conference approaches, experts from the Sensors for Water Interest Group (SWIG), who are chairing sessions, reveal what delegates can expect in this rapidly changing environment
Water distribution monitoring Chair: Professor Joby Boxall, University of Sheffield Water distribution networks are critical infrastructure for transporting high quality potable water from treatment works to customers. They represent a dominant component of water companies’ asset bases. They are vast complex networks of pipes and ancillary components of various materials, ages, sizes and conditions, providing various levels of service and carrying different degrees of risk of failure. Data relating to both quantity and quality aspects of this infrastructure’s condition and performance are vital for efficient and effective proactive management of these systems. Such data requires measurement, transfer and storage and analysis to convert to and effectively display timely information. The session on water distribution monitoring at Sensing for Water 2013 will present aspects of current best practice, innovation, research and future possibilities and challenges.
Real-time decision support
Chair: Stewart Newstead, Water Control Room Forum Water companies’ control rooms play an important role in the introduction of new technologies and ways of working to achieve best practice and efficiency gains. Ideas and collaborative actions are being promoted through the Water Control Room Forum (WCRF).
At conference, the session hosted by the WCRF will explore technological innovations in the presentation and use of data from sensors to support real-time decision-making in a fast-moving environment.
wwtonline.co.uk
Wastewater network modelling Chair: Leo Carswell, WRc
With wide-ranging issues such as blockages, flooding, ageing assets, combined sewer overflow (CSO) spills and illegal discharges - many of which have a direct impact on customers - improved management of wastewater networks is a high priority for the industry. This conference session will explore the application of monitoring technologies to meet these challenges.
New ideas in water sensing
Chair: Darren Reynolds, University of the West of England The development and applications of novel sensor technology for use in the water industry is a fertile ground for innovation. This is driven by legislation and the search for cost-effective technologies that offer quicker measurements with better sensitivity and specificity.
Innovation is often seen in the application of technologies used in other sectors, for example, technologies from the clinical diagnostics sector in terms of biosensing technologies. Also, innovation is seen in the application of new technologies such as nanotechnology, cloud computing and distributive sensing.
The session will reflect developmentst in novel sensing technologies that have potential for future water sensing applications. These include novel sensing technologies based on optical, acoustic and radar measuarement. In addition to the novel sensing technologies being presented are new ideas for monitoring water and using novel communication protocols.
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SWIG 2013 PREVIEW
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