Spanish infrastructure major Acciona has launched BIONS (Business Intelligence of Network Solutions), a new intelligent cloud-based data platform that integrates data to improve the efficiency of water supply management systems.
This next-generation platform provides an in-depth vision of the water supply service in real time, for an overall view of the health of the network, said a statement from Acciona.
A platform with a graphic and mobile interface displays all the data of the water distribution network in real time.
Thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies, BIONS is able to not only detect, analyse and manage failures or incidents in the water supply network such as leaks, breaks or faulty assets –it can also predict when they are likely to happen as well.
As a result, BIONS predictive technologies help prevent water cuts and other system failures before they occur.
Julio Ratia, O&M Middle East Director for Water Solutions at Acciona, said: "Gulf countries have the lowest per capita renewable freshwater resources in the world, and these are declining rapidly due to population growth."
"Leaks in the water network are a real challenge in a region that cannot afford to lose water. BIONS can definitely help to improve the efficiency and sustainability of water systems," he stated.
One of the main advantages of this new platform - when integrated with Acciona's proprietary software GOTA- is the efficiency of the operations and maintenance of the network, with shorter cycles of repair and incident resolution. This can deliver considerable savings to the operator, be they public or private, stated Ratia.
Julio de la Rosa, Middle East Business Development Director for Water Solutions, pointed out that BIONS was a key element for preventive operation and maintenance procedures in all its water plants.
It is a multi-channel platform, which can be accessed and operated from mobile devices, tablets and personal computers. The platform’s cybersecurity architecture protects the water network’s data securely in the cloud, and also the system itself from external attacks.
"The technology allows us to know ahead of time what to expect and what will be requested by the plant, allowing us to quickly define the most optimal operational decisions and obtain the most efficient and sustainable output from the facility," explained Rossa.
BIONS shows the Spanish infrastructure giant's commitment to technological innovation that can deliver a triple dividend: optimising the management of water supply services; improving the business results of water network operators; and delivering a better water service to consumers.
