Making Waves: The Potential of Generative AI in Water Utility Operations

IF 11.4 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Water Research Pub Date : 2024-12-07 DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2024.122935

Lina Sela, Robert B. Sowby, Elad Salomons, Mashor Housh

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Abstract

Water utilities facing increasingly complex infrastructure and operations stand to significantly benefit from artificial intelligence (AI). Current research in water distribution systems engineering primarily focuses on Specialized AI, which plays a crucial role in processing extensive datasets, identifying patterns, and extracting actionable insights to improve the resilience and efficiency of water utility operations. However, barriers such as high implementation costs, uncertainty, system complexity, steep learning curves, inadequate staff training, and the need for specialized technical skills hinder broader adoption. As AI technology evolves, Generative AI is emerging as a game changer by enabling intuitive, natural language interactions with complex systems, thereby making AI more accessible. This paper explores emerging AI topics, examines key challenges in deploying AI-based tools, highlights new opportunities, and presents practical examples of AI integration in water system operations. It also identifies critical aspects that the water research community must prioritize to advance water system research into the AI era, including promoting responsible and user-centered AI solutions, building trust in technology, integrating AI into existing workflows, enhancing data privacy and security, and strengthening partnerships.

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来源期刊

Water Research 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

20.80

自引率

9.40%

发文量

1307

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Water Research, along with its open access companion journal Water Research X, serves as a platform for publishing original research papers covering various aspects of the science and technology related to the anthropogenic water cycle, water quality, and its management worldwide. The audience targeted by the journal comprises biologists, chemical engineers, chemists, civil engineers, environmental engineers, limnologists, and microbiologists. The scope of the journal include: •Treatment processes for water and wastewaters (municipal, agricultural, industrial, and on-site treatment), including resource recovery and residuals management; •Urban hydrology including sewer systems, stormwater management, and green infrastructure; •Drinking water treatment and distribution; •Potable and non-potable water reuse; •Sanitation, public health, and risk assessment; •Anaerobic digestion, solid and hazardous waste management, including source characterization and the effects and control of leachates and gaseous emissions; •Contaminants (chemical, microbial, anthropogenic particles such as nanoparticles or microplastics) and related water quality sensing, monitoring, fate, and assessment; •Anthropogenic impacts on inland, tidal, coastal and urban waters, focusing on surface and ground waters, and point and non-point sources of pollution; •Environmental restoration, linked to surface water, groundwater and groundwater remediation; •Analysis of the interfaces between sediments and water, and between water and atmosphere, focusing specifically on anthropogenic impacts; •Mathematical modelling, systems analysis, machine learning, and beneficial use of big data related to the anthropogenic water cycle; •Socio-economic, policy, and regulations studies.