OptiRTC Case Study High Performance Green Infrastructure and Distributed Real-time Monitoring and Control at Gwinnett County Water Resources Central Facility

Raphael Siebenmann, P.E., Geosyntec

Outline

§ What is OptiRTC? § Real-Time Controls and Monitoring § Case Study at Gwinnett County Bioretention Facility § Closing Thoughts What is OptiRTC?

OptiRTC is a flexible platform that provides real-time control and data management services to meet a wide variety of environmental needs

§ Vertically integrated data collection and management § From the field to the desktop instantly § Automated remote system control based on complex algorithms § Status alerts via email, SMS, or phone § Customized visualization and data reports Initial Research Problem

§ Find the least expensive, most flexible means for monitoring and controlling the physical environment and integrating based datastreams. § UNH CICEET Grant

Patent # 60/850,600 and 11/869,927 OptiRTC Service Platform

Field monitoring and control hardware (sensors, gauges & actuators) Alerts Email Tweet SMS OptiRTC Data Aggregator Voice autodial and Decision Space

User interface web services and user dashboards

Internet-based weather forecasts or other Internet data sources Data logging and (Web service API) telemetry hardware Field Sensor Data Collection: Wireless Endpoints

§ Good for distributed monitoring points

§ Wireless endpoints collect data and send to central Internet-connected gateway

§ Solutions can be battery-powered Field Sensor Data Collection: Mobile Field Unit

§ ioBridge gateway and cellular modem installed in a Pelican case

§ Sensor cable run into

§ Power cord or an in-box battery can be used Real-Time Model Integration

§ Stormwater management model (SWMM) integration – Real-time decisions based on model simulations using field data and/or forecasts

§ Real-time groundwater modeling using measured field data – Drawdown, capture zone analysis, 2-D plume maps, 3-D visualization, mass flux calculations, etc. Automated Data Collection From Internet Sources

USGS Water Data

NOAA current conditions and 48-hour forecasts Example of Distributed Real-Time Monitoring Local Water Quality Data and Remote Dam Operations Data Highly Distributed Real-Time Monitoring and Control (DTRC)

“Ecosystems” of smart environmental infrastructure § Platforms that interact and scale § Disparate data sources can be combined for visualization, analysis, and system control – Access field and web-based data – Interface with other systems OptiRTC featured in

HOW THE “” IS TURNING – Complex algorithms CITIES INTO LIVING ORGANISMS – Specified data can be made available to the public – Data access and user experience is user/ group specific Applications of OptiRTC

§ Adaptive surface water management

§ Water quality monitoring and alerting

§ Remediation optimization

§ Hydrogeology monitoring and evaluation

§ Infinite customized solutions… Case Study: Controlled Bioretention Underdrain

Bioretention site rendering

§ Maximize infiltration Bioretention site photo in August 2013 § Minimize bypass § Achieve water quality targets Case Study: Cistern and Distributed Real-Time Controls

§ Reduce wet weather volume § Reduce mean peak flow § Reduce overflow frequency

5,000 gallon cistern Real-Time Controls Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) and Probability of Precipitation (POP)

70% Threshold QPF and POP Forecast Datastream Threshold of 70% Example Decision Analysis Dashboard Example: Remote Reality Interface Closing Thoughts – Policy and Practice

§ Merging of information technology and infrastructure will increasingly be important if not critical. § Low cost, reliable, and highly functional sensors and sensor platforms will change everything we know about how we currently regulate, enforce, and understand environmental systems. § Be creative. Explore the possibilities. The future is going to be interesting.

Thanks to our collaborators and partners: