Automated systemsNicolas DickinsonSenior Programme Officer / ICT for WASHIRC International Water and Sanitation Centre

Automation

Use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services.

Term coined by in 1946 by a Ford Motor Co. engineer

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Thomson, et al., 2012 in WaterLines

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Fuel, allowance, timeWhat if you could avoid this?

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Automate monitoring?

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Indicators

 

Learning and improved

understanding 

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

New information

needs

New information

needs

Monitoring ICT

http://www.waterservicesthatlast.org/monitoring

Automate monitoring?

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Indicators

 

Learning and improved

understanding CollectionCollection

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

New information

needs

New information

needs

Monitoring ICT

Automate monitoring?

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Indicators

 

Learning and improved

understanding CollectionCollection

Transfer & communication

Transfer & communication

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

New information

needs

New information

needs

Monitoring ICT

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Type of data collection

Digital sensors & loggers

Integrated devices

Software Implications for data

Automated data collection

Flow & pressure sensors, satellite imagery to track changes in bodies of water

Smart Handpumps and devices on water supplies with integrated sensors

Often custom MIS software for automated data management & visualisation, e.g. SweetData

Quantity & quality can be configured & frequency & validity depends if the device is connected and operational.

Automate monitoring?

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Indicators

 

Learning and improved

understanding CollectionCollection

Transfer & communication

Transfer & communication

Data management

Data management

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

New information

needs

New information

needs

Monitoring ICT

Automate monitoring?

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Indicators

 

Learning and improved

understanding CollectionCollection

Transfer & communication

Transfer & communication

Data management

Data management

Analysis & reporting

Analysis & reporting

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

New information

needs

New information

needs

Monitoring ICT

Automate monitoring?

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Indicators

 

Learning and improved

understanding CollectionCollection

Transfer & communication

Transfer & communication

Data management

Data management

Analysis & reporting

Analysis & reporting

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

Use and corrective-action based on

evidence

New information

needs

New information

needs

Monitoring ICT

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Vision for automation

• What is your vision for the future of automated systems?

• Where is the sweet spot for automation in water and sanitation sector monitoring?– Data collection? Transmission? Alerts/standard report

generation? Analytics?

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Cost of automation

What are the life-cycle costs?•Developing and building automated system•Operations•Replacement after malfunction•Training, technical support, etc.

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Capacity

Capacity•Who can develop the system? •Who has the technical expertise to maintain it?

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium

Governance and learning

Governance and learning•Is the data trusted?•Are analytic results accepted? Are they useful?•How can automation support (or stifle) learning?•Losing or creating jobs?

Automated systems, Nicolas Dickinson

Monitoring Sustainable WASH Service Delivery Symposium