the future of technology in stormwater: drones to augmented reality

The Future of Technology

in Stormwater: Drones to

Augmented Reality

Ryan Janoch, PE

September 30, 2014 WEFTEC 2014

Overview

● Previous Technology

● Current Technology

● Future Technology

● Big Data

● Platforms

● Drones

● Augmented Reality

● Challenges

What is Technology?

The Application of Scientific

Knowledge for Practical

Purposes

Types of Technology

• Infrastructure

• Pipes

• Manholes

• Culverts

• Treatment

• Separators

• Bioretention Cells

• Detention Ponds

• Monitoring

• Depth Sensors

• Water Quality

• Maintenance

• Vac Trucks

• Sweepers

• Information

• Teaching

• Data

• Maps

• Inspections

• Permits

Information Technology

The link between physical infrastructure,

monitoring, and maintenance.

Old View

Data collection, mapping, tracking, and

reporting

New View

Understanding, planning, predicting, and

cost/time efficiencies

Can’t move forward

unless you understand

the past and present

Technology Maturity

1. Infrastructure (mature)

2. Treatment (established)

3. Monitoring (established/growing)

4. Maintenance (growing)

5. Information (emerging)

Information Technology

(maybe Past)

• Paper maps/notes

• NPDES Permits

• Annual reports

• CCTV videos

• Photos

Current (for some) Technology

• Water quality sensors

• Online learning/training

• Electronic inspection forms

• GIS mapping

• GPS tracking of maintenance crews

Big Data

Lots of Data

(e.g. internet search, sensors)

Term is Relative

Always Changing

Data Sources

• Treatment devices

• Location, size, sediment depth

• Water quality results

• Watershed – commercial, industry, etc.

• Inspections

• Outreach/Public

• Open Source

• USGS

• USDA

Be Data Driven

Activities guided by data

not by personal experience

or intuition

Application of Big Data

Data Means Nothing Until You Do Something

-Mixpanel Conference

Planning – growth in use, contaminants, etc.

Predictive Maintenance – more/less frequent

Training – site specific

Hidden Cost Benefits

For Manufacturers:

Data from technology not just the device

For Public Entities:

Timely maintenance and tailored planning

For Engineers:

Understand client needs and constraints

Platforms

● Multiple sources

● Sensors

● Existing maps

● Laboratory data

● Inspection

● Videos/photos

Benefits of Platforms

• Integrated

• Central location

• Easier reporting

• Creating a knowledge

field worker

• Empower staff

Example: Stormwater System Mapping

Example: Asset Management Programs

● Targeted maintenance

● Plan for repairs and upgrades

● Better models (e.g. planning, expansion,

upgrades)

● Reduce long-term maintenance costs

● Permit compliance

Source: amazon.com

Drones

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

• Started as military technology

• Commercial use is banned*

• (FAA guidance by September 2015)

Legal in US

• Hobby Class (<400 feet and <4.4 pounds)

• Universities

Perception (banned)

vs. Reality (used daily)

Commercial Use is Thriving

1. Video production – extreme sports and

unique, low cost shots

2. Real estate – site videos and aerials

3. Construction – daily site photos, building

inspections

4. Agriculture (crowded) – imagery, pesticides

5. Delivery (testing) – DHL, Amazon, Google

Applications in Stormwater

• Erosion monitoring

• Water sampling

• Enforcement

• Remote site inspections/sampling

• Silt fence inspections on construction sites

Benefits to Drones

Data – real-time, visual records, sensors

Cost – $1,500+

Safety – remote

Schedule – on demand

City of Lakewood, Ohio

Problem:

• High stormwater flows

• Erosion at outfalls into Lake Erie

• EPA pressure

Solution:

• $1,500 drone

• Monitor erosion and flow pathways

• Safer than rappelling down cliff

http://www.ideastream.org/news/feature/lakewood-buys-drone-to-monitor-sewer-runoff-into-lake-erie

Lake Merritt, Oakland

Water Monitoring

• Aquatic biodiversity data

• Subamarines with video

• pH and temperature sensors on drone

• Citizen project (Cal Academy of Sciences,

iNaturalist, Museum of Oakland, etc.)

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/drones-robotic-rovers-and-citizen-scientists-join-forces-to-

sample-a-lakee28099s-biodiversity/

Photo: Scientificamerican.com

Water Monitoring/Sampling

University of Nebraska

• Beyond aerial photography

• Water sampling with a dronehttp://benkreimer.com/drones/experiments/drone-water-sample-

collection/

European “Drone Project”

• Monitor and treat algae

hotspots

• 3.2M invested

• Consortium of groupshttp://www.waterworld.com/articles/wwi/print/volume-29/issue-

2/regulars/news/industry-news/drones-to-control-monitor-and-treat-

green-algae-blooms.html

Augmented Reality

Live view of the environment

supplemented by computer images

or information (layers)

Source: publicworksgroup.com

Applications of Augmented Reality

• Stormwater pipes

• Maintenance information

Warning: Only as good as the data that goes in

Source: Bentley.com

Source: vuzix.com

Challenges

• Slow to Evolve/Resistance to Change

• Costs

• Not Understanding Limitations

• Not Understanding Benefits

• Tough to Integrate

Questions?

Ryan Janoch

ryan@mapistry.com

(978) 821-4302