Together with Sweco and Calejo, we at Esatto have conducted an innovation sprint within the framework of the Brons Digital Innovation Hub. The goal of the innovation sprint has been to bridge the gap between systems and users by creating a new user interface for the new AI platform, Smart Water.
The foundation of the sprint was an identified problem related to sewage networks and rainfall, as well as the challenge of communicating and visualising complex systems. During rainfall, the flow in sewers can increase by 4-5 times the normal volume, causing pumps to be unable to remove the water quickly enough. This leads to the water level rising too high, resulting in untreated sewage spilling into the surrounding environment, a situation known as overflow. Smart Water is an AI platform developed by Calejo in collaboration with Sweco, aimed at making the management of sewage pumps more intelligent and reducing sewage overflows.
“A digital twin is created to contribute to a more disruption-free sewage system, with less overflow and reduced energy consumption, among other benefits. By training the model on historical data, the solution can predict when and by how much a certain amount of rainfall will increase the flow in the selected sewage system,” says Johannes Holmberg, CEO of Calejo.
During the initial phase of the innovation sprint, three main functional areas were identified where users need support: retrieving data, simulating data, and monitoring and influencing the system. Currently, much of this work is done manually, which is both risky and resource-intensive. The focus was therefore on automating processes that also provide clearer insights into flows and status.
Interactive map to provide a quick overview
The result of the innovation sprint is an interactive map that provides an overview of an entire sewage system, including pump stations and treatment plants—in real-time and in the near future. A panel displays current and relevant information about the system, effectively guiding operators and maintenance staff to where the need is greatest. The map immediately indicates when there is a risk of a deviation and can then provide detailed information about the current forecast and the geographical area it affects.
“A key success factor in the project was working closely with the intended end users. What support could we provide them in their daily work? And what did they need to understand the interface? There were many interesting and enjoyable meetings to shape a solution that could act as a bridge between technology and people,” says Maria Enecker, UX designer at Esatto.
What happens next?
The next step is to build a lighter prototype to test the concept with users, gathering more input for further development of the design sketches. Another area for development is to make the solution mobile-friendly for more flexible and accessible use. The ultimate goal is for the system to ingest data, analyse the outcomes, and then optimise and, if necessary, autonomously control the pump management. In addition to minimising flooding, the solution can also help reduce energy consumption and decrease the use of chemicals in treatment plants.
“It has been very interesting to follow this process and see the results that can be achieved when advanced AI technology is combined with an exploratory design process. The implementation and outcome of the innovation sprint have been very successful, and I hope it can inspire more companies in our region to begin their own innovation work,” concludes Lars Oscarson, innovation leader at Bron Innovation.
