How Automated Monitoring Is Simplifying Infrastructure Management

In the past decade or so, there has been a significant increase in the availability of software solutions for water utilities. These solutions often promise to transform data into actionable recommendations to enhance operational efficiency and system performance. However, water systems already utilize a wide range of software, including asset inventories, geographic information systems (GIS), maintenance management systems, and billing systems. This has resulted in software fatigue among users. They are tired of the repetitive process of extracting and analyzing data across multiple systems, which is necessary before taking appropriate actions. Moreover, each new system introduces cybersecurity risks that must be assessed before procurement.

The primary challenges are twofold: integration and sophistication. Users seek a unified entry point for all data systems (integration) that can generate user-friendly recommendations (sophistication). Fortunately, advanced automated monitoring systems now offer streamlined user experiences by providing a consolidated platform that presents understandable data and facilitates informed decision-making.