Introduction
In the WavE II collaborative projects, there are various activities relating to the topic of "digitization". The aim of the cross-sectional topic is to offer the relevant players from the WavE II collaborative projects an exchange platform on this topic and to promote networking between the collaborative projects. In the cooperation of the project participants, information on planned instruments, methods, processes and data management will be compiled. The focus will also be on horizontal integration, i.e. the interfaces of digitization to municipal (waste) water management and industrial production.
In the first step, the cross-cutting topic group "Digitalization" is developing a survey matrix that will form the basis for further exchange and can support the projects in the implementation and application of their results.
Activities and results to date
In the first expert meeting in January 2022, a valuable exchange took place between a total of 9 collaborative projects from all 3 thematic areas. The objectives of the projects are very diverse. They range from cost-effective and simple networking of existing and new equipment, monitoring and optimization of treatment processes to automated demand determination of agricultural and urban irrigation. Other areas of focus include process control, process digital twins and process-integrated digital cooling performance management. Furthermore, aspects of "plant fitness" or the derivation of optimized algorithms and procedures for process control are addressed.
Due to the broad range of objectives, there is a great variety of topics, approaches and tools in the field of digitization. At the same time, however, there are also commonalities with regard to the development and implementation of solutions. These will be identified in the next step and transferred into a matrix.
For this purpose, a survey matrix was developed and sent to the projects. The survey matrix contains the following aspects:
- Objective of the digitization approach (with regard to the application of an already existing digitization approach or to a new development).
- Hardware / connectivity (devices for data acquisition and for data processing as well as the way to establish connectivity between data acquisition and data system).
- Software / Tools
- Data (which data / parameters are collected or integrated, what is their origin and in which interval are they collected).
- Data processing (DV), -use and -visualization
- General conditions (regarding economic efficiency, acceptance and business models)
A preliminary analysis of the survey matrix was presented at the WavE II state seminar.
Outlook
The feedback on the matrix will be evaluated and summarized. A further expert meeting for the exchange of approaches, experiences and further interests is planned. Already now, a bilateral exchange between the projects could be initiated in part. In addition to networking through technical exchange between the collaborative projects, a workshop in discussion with users from the WavE II projects is planned in order to identify how workflows of potential users are currently designed, where digital tools can provide assistance, and what needs can be derived.
