The water industry is essential. It is responsible for treating and delivering clean water to homes and businesses. To address challenges and evolve to meet demand, the water industry is beginning to embrace cutting-edge technology solutions. Water industry augmented reality (AR) is one particular technology that has the potential to transform water management.
This guide explores how water facilities can utilize and benefit from augmented reality.
How is augmented reality used in water facilities?
In augmented reality, the digital and physical worlds unite. The technology leverages holographic techniques to overlay digital visual elements, sounds, and data onto the real world. Although AR is still in the early stages of adoption, water facilities can use it in multiple ways. Here’s how:
- Visualization - AR can help maintenance teams and engineers visualize information about the location and functionality of assets. By creating a digital twin of the infrastructure below ground, personnel can see water mains and utility assets that are below ground.
- Training - AR opens up new opportunities and possibilities for training staff. Operators can first practice tasks and procedures in a safe, virtual environment before applying skills in the field. Additionally, AR can be used to familiarize and update staff on the layout, equipment, and protocols in the facility.
- Monitoring - AR is a game-changer for water facility monitoring. The technology allows operators to see the wastewater and drinking water network and incorporate internal and external party data to keep close tabs on water levels, soil conditions, and many other critical factors.
- Development - With AR, facility engineers can develop prototypes and use them to determine the best placement of new components. AR models can be used at construction sites to provide supplementary information to traditional construction assets.
- Maintenance and Repairs - Through AR technology, on-site technicians can connect with remote experts for guidance through complex repair and maintenance tasks. Technicians can wear AR glasses or use AR applications to receive real-time instructions and guidelines through visual overlays. Additionally, AR can help operators visualize complex machinery from unique perspectives to understand how the systems work and identify potential issues.
- Hazard Identification - AR allows managers to virtually walk through a model of a treatment facility to identify hazards instead of examining diagrams, blueprints, and CAD drawings by hand. This allows managers to see more details and identify even the most discrete issues.
- Advocacy and Awareness - AR water facility technologies allow members of the public to virtually visit water treatment facilities to see how the plants play an essential role in daily life.
Benefits of AR for the Water Industry
The water industry can benefit from AR in many ways, including these five:
- Greater Visibility - AR gives a clearer picture of the existing data and shines a light on what is missing or not yet understood.
- Enhanced Insights - AR helps improve understanding of complex situations while also minimizing risk and service disruption.
- Improves Precision - By leveraging AR visual representations and real-time data-driven insights, facility operators can improve the precision of maintenance and development activities.
- Enhanced Training - AR opens up new opportunities for improving operator skills and ensuring compliance. For example, staff can practice emergency response procedures in a risk-free, virtual environment.
- Improved Sustainability - By providing innovative ways to identify leaks and optimize systems, AR helps facilities reduce energy consumption and water leakage.
Future of AR in the Water Industry
Water industry AR is currently in the development and experimentation phase, so there is plenty of room for innovation. Some water facilities around the world are already experimenting with this technology, and many others have yet to test it out.
In the future, we will likely see AR integrated into the daily operations of water facilities. For example, the technology will likely make trench excavation a thing of the past. Instead, field technicians on the surface can see accurate and richly detailed information about assets below the surface. Through advancing IoT integration, operators will also be able to access real-time information about water quality and asset status.
Another advancement we are likely to see is volumetric display. Currently, AR visualizations are linked to a screen, computer, or headset. Eventually, AR mapping will happen effortlessly on portable devices or even in space.
Learn More
Water facilities that embrace AR will be better equipped to provide clean water, manage challenges, and optimize their operations. Looking to learn more about the digital transformation of the water industry?
Encora is here to help.
Fast-growing tech companies partner with Encora to outsource product development and drive growth. We are deeply expert in the various disciplines, tools, and technologies that power the emerging economy, and this is one of the primary reasons that clients choose Encora over the many strategic alternatives that they have.
To transform your water facility with AR, contact Encora today.
