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In the world of data analytics there's a phrase that says we are data rich and knowledge poor. The rise of real-time data has put more informa- tion than ever at our fingertips, but without proper analysis and context, this data boom does not deliver much value. The Stantec team is working to address this challenge in our approach to water infrastructure design and engineering to make our data work smarter and harder to deliver real value to clients. By using advanced hydraulic models, our team is focused on translating extensive data into a holistic story of the overall outcomes of a project. The goal? To increase understanding and confidence, drive efficiency, and achieve real cost savings. Setting a plan, and checking it twice Our ongoing work on one of the largest CSO projects in the Northeast- ern U.S. serves as a prime example of the great potential for advanced data analysis when applied to hydraulic modeling in optimizing project solutions. In this case, our team developed a detailed fit-for-purpose hydraulic model to help optimize CSO control facilities for the Nar- ragansett Bay Commission (NBC) Phase III CSO Abatement Program in Rhode Island. Over the past 20 years, NBC, which operates wastewater collection and treatment facilities for 10 member communities, has been lead- ing a three-phase program to address CSO volumes and resulting environmental impacts. Program goals include a reduction of annual CSO volumes by 98 percent with no more than four overflows per year, an 80 percent decrease in shellfish bed closures, and a 98 percent reduction in fecal coliform loading. The main component in Phase I (under construction from 2001 to 2008) involved the installation of a 16,284-ft deep rock storage tunnel with an inside diameter of 26-ft, located approximately 270-ft below grade. This phase also involved the addition of a tunnel pump station, drop shafts, and a consolidation of conduits. Phase II (under construction from 2011 to 2015) added CSO interceptors to connect additional outfalls to the Providence Tun- nel, several sewer separation projects, and the addition of a wetlands storage facility. analysis and TOTEX planning equal savings and resilience How “sweating the system” with smart analytics modeling and TOTEX planning can deliver fit-for-purpose solutions, capital cost savings, and system optimization By Nick Anderson and Melissa Carter Wet-weather infrastructure: Smart
Prior to kicking off the third and final phase, NBC selected Stantec to revisit the original Phase III plan (involving a second deep rock CSO storage tunnel nearly 13,000-ft. long and 28-ft. in diameter with an estimated capital cost of $815 million) for opportunities to optimize the existing approach and consider new tactics that may further benefit CSO control goals. Our first task was to make sure what was proposed more than 20 years ago would still meet the regulatory goals of storing a three-month storm and preventing no more than four CSO spills in a typical year, which it did. However, while the engineering approach proved solid, the original analysis for this project was 20 years out of date from a technological standpoint. Since computing power was limited at the time, teams had no choice but to make broad assumptions in modelling. This was where our team spotted an opportunity. By harnessing the power of advanced analytics in conjunction with hydraulic models and total expenditure (TOTEX) planning, taking into account capital and operational expenditures, we worked to “sweat the system” to optimize the project. This was done while ensuring the new approach still met the original CSO control criteria without introducing any additional risk. The result? A detailed model with smart analytics that have helped establish a road map for solution optimization at an estimated $60M reduction in capital costs. Building a smart model for smarter solutions Using an adaptive management strategy, we focused on collecting as much data as possible. In many cases more than what is typically at the early stages of a design project, with an eye on using the power of data for project refinement as the hydraulic model becomes more informed. Very few clients have a backlog of data, so getting as much data as early as possible with continuous metering and flow assessment created the means to gain confidence in the design at a much earlier stage, with smaller refinements to follow.
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csengineermag.com march 2020
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