Digitalization of a System Transport and Distribution of Drinking Water by Designing an Online Digital Model on a Virtual Platform

The imperative for digital transformation in water services has become undeniable. Even for public services with limited budgets, the opportunity to create value through digitalization remains a reality. This chapter explores in detail the essential steps to develop an online hydraulic model of the water distribution system, with the objective of improving operational efficiency and overall network management. The process begins with the development of an offline hydraulic model, based on existing data. This involves converting an Autocad.dxf file to a model compatible with the EPANET.inp format. Extensive field checks are then undertaken to complement the network information, with the potential use of a drone to generate a digital elevation model and update hydraulic data. The estimation of user consumption is based on the analysis of historical billing data. All this information is gradually transferred to a dedicated online modeling platform. It is imperative to calibrate the model in order to guarantee its adequacy with the reality of the water distribution system. In summary, this comprehensive process provides a holistic approach to setting up an online hydraulic model, ensuring better understanding and management of the hydraulic network.