Smart Water City

This project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and is being carried out as part of the "Smart Cities Demo - Living Urban Innovation" programme.

Project partners: G. Bernhardt's Söhne Ges.m.b.H., Sensor Network Services GmbH, Landscape architects DI Karl Grimm
Processor: Robert SITZENFREI, Martin OBERASCHER, Carolina KINZEL,

Project duration: 04/2019 - 06/2022

Brief description:

The success of "Smart Cities" is based on the use of various information and communication technologies (ICT) in co-operation with civil society. This enables cities to become more efficient and sustainable across all systems. In addition to the continuous supply of fresh water to the entire municipality, the urban water infrastructure also guarantees the environmentally friendly removal of wastewater and the safe drainage of rainwater. Even though the spread of real-time control systems can already be found in the individual systems, water supply and urban drainage are still regarded as separate systems. However, there is currently also a separation of control options for the overall system between the end user and the operator.

The aim of this cooperative R&D project is not only to investigate a "Smart Water City", but also the effects of a networked water infrastructure on civil society and vice versa. This includes the implementation of a smart, urban water infrastructure in the extended urban fabric and the realisation of innovative communication technologies for the interaction between the population, planners and decision-makers. Based on this, smart, public and private services can be implemented for a more efficient use of resources in order to determine the potentials and effects of interactions of civil society with technical water infrastructure. Together with the life cycle costs, the municipal added value of a smart, urban water infrastructure can then be determined.

The project consortium is pursuing a two-stage strategy for the implementation and testing of a "Smart Water City": The first stage is aimed at expanding the existing showroom and experimental space "Smart Campus" (Campus Technik of the University of Innsbruck), in which the effects of integrative and cross-system applications can be worked on. The Smart Campus functions as an idealised experimental and demonstration object to show and test the functionality, potential and possibilities of a Smart Water City for all stakeholders. In the second stage, the implementation of an intelligent water supply system will be trialled and investigated on a testbed in the city. The Eco Plus Park Wiener Neudorf will be used to analyse the potential of an intelligent water supply under real-life conditions.

The implementation of smart monitoring and control of the water infrastructure will enable a significant increase in quality in terms of supply security (detection of burst pipes, leaks and contamination) and reliability (control of drainage processes in the sewer). Thanks to the holistic approach, new approaches for operation and intelligent control can be implemented and new operating and maintenance models can be developed as multi-actor partnerships. For example, "smart rain barrels" are storage volumes that can be controlled in real time for innovative rainwater management, which are installed and operated at household level. This can create decentralised retention of rainwater for irrigation purposes (saving drinking water) and at the same time reduce the quantities discharged into the sewage system or postpone it to times when there is sufficient capacity. The interaction of a large number of smart rain barrels in a residential area can also reduce emissions into water bodies, for example, but also minimise the risk of flooding.

other links:

• Project page Climate and Energy Fund
  
• Smart Campus demonstration and experimentation centre

Articles in journals and conferences

• Oberascher, Martin; Kinzel, Carolina; Rauch Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2019): Demonstration site for Smart Water Cities - Smart Campus Innsbruck. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Urban Water - planning and technologies for sustainable management (Novatech). Lyon: Graie. (Weblink)
• Oberascher, Martin; Zischg, Jonatan; Kastlunger, Ulrich; Schöpf, Martin; Kinzel, Carolina; Zingerle, Christoph; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2019 online): Multifunctional rainwater management through smart rain barrels. Austrian Water and Waste Management. (Weblink)
• Oberascher, Martin; Zischg, Jonatan; Kastlunger, Ulrich; Schöpf, Martin; Kinzel, Carolina; Zingerle, Christoph; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2019): Advanced rainwater management through smart rain barrels. In: Burkhardt, Michael; Graf, Christian: Conference proceedings Aqua Urbanica 2019. Rethinking rainwater - dimensioning meets design. HSR University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil. (Weblink)
• Sitzenfrei, Robert; Oberascher, Martin; Fuchs-Hanusch, Daniela (2020): "Smart City and the urban water cycle". In: Symposium Water Supply 2020, p. 42 - 43. Austrian Association for the Gas and Water Industry.
• Li, Jiada; Yang, Xiafei; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2020): Rethinking the Framework of Smart Water Systems: A Review. In: Water 2020, 12, 412 (Weblink )
• Oberascher, Martin; Kinzel, Carolina; Schöpf, Martin; Kastlunger, Ulrich; Zingerle, Christoph; Puschacher, Samuel; Kleidorfer, Manfred; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2020): Towards Smart Water Cities - opportunities arising from Smart Rain Barrels for urban drainage and water supply. In: EGU General Assembly 2020. Göttingen: Copernicus GmbH. (Weblink)
• Sitzenfrei, Robert; Kleidorfer, Manfred; Bach, Peter M.; Bacchin, Taneha K (2020): Green Infrastructures for Urban Water System: Balance between Cities and Nature. In: Water 2020, 12, 1456. (Weblink )
• Li, Jiada; Hassan, Daniyal; Brewer, Simon; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2020): Is Clustering Time-series Water Depth Useful? An Exploratory Study for Flooding Detection in Urban Drainage Systems. In: Water 2020, 12(9). (Weblink)
• Oberascher, Martin; Kinzel, Carolina; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2020): Insights into a "Smart Water City".
  In: WWT - Wasserwirtschaft Wassertechnik: Das Praxismagazin fuer das Trink- und Altwassermanagement 11/12, p. 13 - 16.
• Oberascher, Martin; Möderl, Michael; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2020): Water Loss Management in Small Municipalities: The Situation in Tyrol. In: Water 12/12, No. 3446. (Weblink )
• Oberascher, Martin; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2021): Digitalisation and citizen participation - opportunities for
  integrated management of urban water infrastructure. In: vEGUGeneral Assembly 2021. Göttingen: Copernicus GmbH. (Weblink)
• Oberascher, Martin; Kinzel, Carolina; Kastlunger, Ulrich; Kleidorfer, Manfred; Zingerle, Christoph; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2021): Integrated urban water management with micro storages developed as an IoT-based solution - the smart rain barrel. In: Environmental Modelling & Software, 105028. (Weblink)
• Oberascher, Martin; Kinzel, Carolina; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2021): Model-Based Upscaling of the IoT-Based Smart Rain Barrel-An Integrated Analysis of the Urban Water Cycle. In: Proceedings of World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2021. Planning a Resilient Future along America's Freshwater. Reston: American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE). (Weblink)
• Oberascher, Martin; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2021): Efficient integration of IoT-based micro storages to improve urban drainage performance through advanced control strategies. In: Water Science & Technology. (Weblink)
• Oberascher, Martin; Kinzel, Carolina; Schöpf, Martin; Kastlunger, Ulrich; Zingerle, Christoph; Puschacher, Samuel; Kleidorfer, Manfred; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2021): Smart Rain Barrel - An IoT solution for green infrastructure.
  In: Proceedings of the IWA Digital World Water Congress 2021. London: IWA Publishing.
  
• Oberascher, Martin; Dastgir, Aun; Li, Jiada; Hesarkazzazi, Sina; Hajibabaei, Mohsen; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2021): Revealing the Challenges of Smart Rainwater Harvesting for Integrated and Digital Resilience of Urban Water Infrastructure. In: Water 13/14, No. 1902. (Weblink)
• Oberascher, Martin; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2022): Towards a smart water city: A comprehensive review of applications, data requirements, and communication technologies for integrated management. In: Sustainable Cities and Society 76 (DOI )
• Oberascher, Martin; Dastgir, Aun; Li, Jiada; Hesarkazzazi, Sina; Hajibabaei, Mohsen; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert (2022): Evaluating the digital resilience of urban water infrastructure retrofitted with smart rainwater harvesting. In: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2022. Adaptive Planning and Design in an Age of Risk and Uncertainty. Reston: American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE). (Weblink )

Presentations

• Presenter: Sitzenfrei, Robert. Co-authors: Oberascher, Martin; Zischg, Jonatan; Kastlunger, Ulrich; Schöpf, Martin; Kinzel, Carolina; Zingerle, Christoph; Rauch, Wolfgang: Advanced Rainwater Harvesting through Smart Rain Barrels.
  World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2019: Hydraulics, Waterways, and Water Distribution Systems Analysis. Pittsburgh. Date: 20 May 2019.
• Presenter: Oberascher, Martin. Co-authors: Kinzel, Carolina; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert: Smart Campus: A testbed for smart water systems. 24th European Junior Scientist Workshop on Monitoring urban drainage systems. La Bérarde (France). Date: 23 May 2019
• Lecturer: Oberascher, Martin Co-authors: Kinzel, Carolina; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert: Demonstration site for Smart Water Cities - Smart Campus Innsbruck. 10th International Conference on Urban Water - planning and technologies for sustainable management (Novatech 2019). Lyon (France). Date: 04.07.2019
• Lecturer: Oberascher, Martin. Co-authors: Zischg, Jonatan; Kastlunger, Ulrich; Schöpf, Martin; Kinzel, Carolina; Zingerle, Christoph; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert: Advanced rainwater management through smart rain barrels. Aqua Urbanica 2019, Rigi-Kaltbad (Switzerland). Date: 09.09.2019.
• Lecturer: Sitzenfrei, Robert. Co-authors: Oberascher, Martin; Fuchs-Hanusch, Daniela: Smart City and the urban water cycle. Symposium Water Supply 2020, Vienna. Date: 30 January 2020.
• Lecturer: Oberascher, Martin. Co-authors: Kinzel, Carolina; Schöpf, Martin; Kastlunger, Ulrich; Zingerle, Christoph; Puschacher, Samuel; Kleidorfer, Manfred; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert: Towards Smart Water Cities - opportunities arising from Smart Rain Barrels for urban drainage and water supply. European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2020, Vienna. Date: 04.05.2020. (Weblink)
• Lecturer: Oberascher, Martin. Co-authors: Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert: Digitalisation and citizen participation - opportunities for integrated management of urban water infrastructure. European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2021. Göttingen (online). Date: 27 April 2021.
• Presenter: Oberascher, Martin. Co-authors: Kinzel, Carolina; Schöpf, Martin; Kastlunger, Ulrich; Zingerle, Christoph; Puschacher, Samuel; Kleidorfer, Manfred; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert: Smart Rain Barrel - An IoT solution for green infrastructure. International Water Association (IWA). Digital World Water Congress 2021 (online). Date: 01.06.2021. (Poster presentation)
• Presenter: Oberascher, Martin. Co-authors: Kinzel, Carolina; Rauch, Wolfgang; Sitzenfrei, Robert: Model-based upscaling of the IoT-based smart rain barrel - An integrated analysis of the urban water cycle. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2021. Milwaukee (online). Date: 10 June 2021.
• Presenter: Sitzenfrei, Robert. Co-authors: Oberascher, Martin; Dastgir, Aun; Li, Jiada; Hesarkazzazi, Sina; Hajibabaei, Mohsen; Rauch, Wolfgang: Evaluating the digital resilience of urban water infrastructure retrofitted with smart rainwater harvesting. 2022 World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Atlanta, 07.06.2022.