Asset management : integrating GIS as a decision support tool in meter management in national water and sewerage corporation
(2016) In Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science GISM01 20162Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
- Abstract
- Water meters provide the basis for generation of monthly water consumption invoices by the utility for all its customers. This makes the water meters an integral part of the utility’s asset base. However, like any asset, these meters sometimes fail to function as expected and may under register or not register any water consumption by the customers. When this happens, the revenues of the utility are at risk.
The effective management of water meters by utilities needs to consider the individual risks that each meter poses to the utility in the undesirable event that such a meter fails to register consumption by the customer. A number of studies have been made by other scholars on the performance of meters, but with little or no integration... (More) - Water meters provide the basis for generation of monthly water consumption invoices by the utility for all its customers. This makes the water meters an integral part of the utility’s asset base. However, like any asset, these meters sometimes fail to function as expected and may under register or not register any water consumption by the customers. When this happens, the revenues of the utility are at risk.
The effective management of water meters by utilities needs to consider the individual risks that each meter poses to the utility in the undesirable event that such a meter fails to register consumption by the customer. A number of studies have been made by other scholars on the performance of meters, but with little or no integration of GIS as a decision support tool for their management. The different locations where these meters are installed needs to be considered in inform effective management.
Materials and Methods
This study integrates GIS as a decision support tool in managing the risks associated to meter failure. The risk associated to each water meter is determined as a product of the probability of meter failure and the criticality of such a meter. The probability of meter failure is estimated by a meter failure index that is computed from the age of the meter and the criticality of each meter is estimated by the average monthly volume of water dispensed by the water meter.
The risk maps generated help to inform staff deployment for effective meter monitoring as well as planning for their replacement by the water utility (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Many water utilities use water meters to determine the volume of water consumed by each customer. In this case, meters become the basis for generating monthly invoices for water consumed and by default, the revenues due to the water utility.
However, like any asset, these meters sometimes fail to function due to a number of reasons. When this happens, they may under register or not register any water consumption by the customers. This puts the revenues of the utility at risk.
Utilities therefore need to understand the risk associated to each water meter in order to effectively manage that risk. In managing such risk, it is important to consider the various locations where these meters are installed. Several studies have been understand... (More) - Many water utilities use water meters to determine the volume of water consumed by each customer. In this case, meters become the basis for generating monthly invoices for water consumed and by default, the revenues due to the water utility.
However, like any asset, these meters sometimes fail to function due to a number of reasons. When this happens, they may under register or not register any water consumption by the customers. This puts the revenues of the utility at risk.
Utilities therefore need to understand the risk associated to each water meter in order to effectively manage that risk. In managing such risk, it is important to consider the various locations where these meters are installed. Several studies have been understand to understand why meters fail. However, there has been little effort to integrate GIS in managing the risks associated to meter performance.
Materials and Methods
This study integrates GIS as a decision support tool in managing the risks associated to meter failure. Risk is defined as the product of the probability of meter failure and the criticality associated to each meter, in the event of failure. The probability of meter failure is represented by a meter failure index which is computed from the age of a water meter. Meter criticality is estimated by the average monthly amount of water registered by each meter. The older the water meter, the more likely it is to fail and the more water that is registered on a monthly basis by the water meter, the more such a meter is critical to the utility compared to others.
The risk maps generated help to inform staff deployment for effective meter monitoring as well as planning for their replacement by the water utility. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8895582
- author
- Echelai, Gilbert Akol LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- Integrating GIS as a decision support tool in meter management
- course
- GISM01 20162
- year
- 2016
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- physical geography and ecosystems analysis, asset management, risk, probability of failure, criticality
- publication/series
- Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science
- report number
- 61
- language
- English
- id
- 8895582
- date added to LUP
- 2016-12-01 08:21:08
- date last changed
- 2016-12-01 08:21:08
@misc{8895582,
abstract = {{Water meters provide the basis for generation of monthly water consumption invoices by the utility for all its customers. This makes the water meters an integral part of the utility’s asset base. However, like any asset, these meters sometimes fail to function as expected and may under register or not register any water consumption by the customers. When this happens, the revenues of the utility are at risk.
The effective management of water meters by utilities needs to consider the individual risks that each meter poses to the utility in the undesirable event that such a meter fails to register consumption by the customer. A number of studies have been made by other scholars on the performance of meters, but with little or no integration of GIS as a decision support tool for their management. The different locations where these meters are installed needs to be considered in inform effective management.
Materials and Methods
This study integrates GIS as a decision support tool in managing the risks associated to meter failure. The risk associated to each water meter is determined as a product of the probability of meter failure and the criticality of such a meter. The probability of meter failure is estimated by a meter failure index that is computed from the age of the meter and the criticality of each meter is estimated by the average monthly volume of water dispensed by the water meter.
The risk maps generated help to inform staff deployment for effective meter monitoring as well as planning for their replacement by the water utility}},
author = {{Echelai, Gilbert Akol}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science}},
title = {{Asset management : integrating GIS as a decision support tool in meter management in national water and sewerage corporation}},
year = {{2016}},
}