InfoNet V14.5 Optimizes Asset Management Through Enhanced Analytics, Lifetime Modeling And Informed Prioritization Of Rehabilitation And Replacement Programs

Sophisticated Weibull-Based Condition Assessment Analysis Facilitates Targeted Approach to Management of Rehabilitation and Renewal in Water Industry

Innovyze, a leading global innovator of business analytics software and technologies for smart wet infrastructure, recently announced the release of InfoNet V14.5, a comprehensive set of water, wastewater, and storm water smart asset performance and condition modeling applications. The latest release adds significant customer-requested functionality that improves the software’s business analytics and data management tools. Together, these tools give utilities more ways to lengthen the useful life of their assets, streamline operations, optimize capital planning, improve system performance, and provide high levels of customer service.

InfoNet is a purpose-built asset management modeling and data analysis system for water distribution, wastewater collection and stormwater networks. Among its many advantages, it enables users to view, manage, integrate, validate, analyze and report on their network data to obtain accurate, up-to-date, auditable information on network infrastructure and performance. With formats that are easy to use and comprehend, InfoNet ensures well-informed, swift, cost-effective and action-oriented decision making for both day-to-day operational management and long-term network planning. To gain the clearest possible picture of their network infrastructures, users can integrate a host of applications and data sets they already use, including generic GIS, corporate databases, maintenance management systems, field data systems, SCADA, hydraulic modeling/analysis software and other corporate applications. The software can also directly integrate with the powerful Esri (Redlands, CA) ArcGIS (9.x-10.x) platform.

Many of the world’s water and wastewater networks are reaching or have exceeded their design lives and urgently need extensive upgrading through rehabilitation, repair, and/or replacement. As these aging systems deteriorate, they become increasingly vulnerable to structural failures. Such failures are often unexpected and catastrophic, resulting in significant service disruptions, flooding, and local area damage. To address these issues, InfoNet now includes sophisticated predictive analytics that can identify the pipes in the network that have degraded the most significantly, as well as the local regions where rehabilitation is required most urgently. Users can then create reliable, cost-effective risk-based capital improvement plans that improve operational efficiency and quality of service and keep assets performing at peak condition while making the most of limited budgets.

An understanding of how pipes fail combined with a quantitative understanding of the underlying causal factors likely to induce failure greatly enhances a targeted approach to rehabilitation planning. InfoNet now allows utilities to plan system improvements by scoring both the probability (likelihood) and consequence of failure for each underground asset. The assets with the greatest likelihood of failure and the greatest consequences of that failure will require the most critical attention. Probability of failure is determined based on the pipe’s physical condition and location as well as its hydraulic performance characteristics. InfoNet V14.5 uses an advanced Weibull analysis of failure data to provide estimates of asset lifetime and failure probability over time. Consequence of failure ranking draws on data such as service to critical facilities, total flow carried, population served, adjacent vehicular traffic and other related geospatial factors. Assets that affect system operation normally rate high on the consequence scale, while assets in poor condition have a high probability of failure. The risk of failure is then determined for each asset based on the Likelihood and Consequence of Failure.

Once the risk of failure is known for all pipe assets, appropriate interventions can be sought to reduce the risk where necessary. A Rehabilitation Advisor module considers engineering alternatives and identifies rehabilitation options based on the level of risk reduction compared to the cost of the intervention. Such a cost benefit analysis allows the user to prioritize tasks with specific objectives, e.g., maximum risk reduction for a given budget. Armed with a list of suggested rehabilitation tasks, the user can employ a Task Scheduling module to investigate their details, review their impact on the network and select the tasks to be carried out. Selected tasks can then be created and scheduled in the network.

InfoNet V14.5 enhancements further the Innovyze tradition of making powerful smart asset management tools available to an increasingly wider field of users, from water and wastewater utilities to engineering and management consulting firms. The release includes new features that extend the products’ range, along with powerful extensions to their analytic capabilities and specific enhancements to user productivity.

For a complete list of new features, visit the “What’s New” section of the online help for InfoNet V14.5.

“Utilities worldwide face the constant challenge of renewing and replacing aging and failing drinking water and wastewater network assets with limited resources,” said Paul F. Boulos, Ph.D., BCEEM, NAE, Hon.D.WRE, Dist.D.NE, F.ASCE, President, COO and Chief Technical Officer of Innovyze. “InfoNet offers critical capabilities for meeting this challenge. In particular, the new Weibull analysis can assist in identifying the regions in the network that are most degraded and require immediate attention. The software’s comprehensive asset management, advanced analytics and data collection and analysis capabilities empower utilities to better assess and understand current conditions, predict and fix problems before they occur, and strengthen their infrastructures in a phased manner. They are also invaluable aids in reducing operational and capital spending, meeting service expectations and regulatory requirements, and putting their systems on the road to sustainability. The new release reflects Innovyze’s commitment to continuous product evolution to meet the ever-changing needs of our industry. Our customers count on this commitment to help make them the best-run utilities in the world.”

Pricing and Availability
InfoNet V14.5 is now available worldwide by subscription. Subscription members can immediately download the new version free of charge directly from www.innovyze.com. The Innovyze Subscription Program is a friendly customer support and software maintenance program that ensures the longevity and usefulness of Innovyze products. It gives subscribers instant access to new functionality as it is developed, along with automatic software updates and upgrades.

About Innovyze
Innovyze is a leading global provider of wet infrastructure business analytics software solutions designed to meet the technological needs of water and wastewater utilities, government industries, and engineering organizations worldwide. Its clients include the majority of the largest UK, Australasia and North American cities, foremost utilities on all five continents, and ENR top-rated design firms. With unparalleled expertise and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, the Innovyze connected portfolio of best-in-class product lines empowers thousands of engineers to competitively plan, manage, design, protect, operate and sustain highly efficient and reliable infrastructure systems, and provides an enduring platform for customer success. For more information, visit www.innovyze.com.