WET News

wwtonline.co.uk | MAY 2019 WET NEWS 11 some of them incredibly realistic. However, simply changing the nature of your response or giving an unexpected answer can make the system fail the Turing test – a machine's ability to exhibit intel- ligent behaviour equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human. We will always live in commu- nities, where people come together, share ideas and live their lives. The fundamentals of economics suggest that produc- tivity needs to equal consump- tion. If a factory owner installs robots to make widgets signifi- cantly faster than a human, there- fore making the human redun- dant, someone still ultimately needs to buy the widget. Factor this up millions of times and, if the whole population didn't have jobs, how could they buy any- thing? If they can't buy anything, where would be the driver to make 'more' widgets? This is a great example of why the general population will not be made redundant by technology. In the engineering sector, 3D modelling of solutions is not new. But there is still some reluctance to fully embrace this approach, with some still preferring to look at and 'red pen' a printed 2D drawing. This still works, but the ability to view, comment and col- laborate on an accurate and vis- ually pleasing solution in a live environment is bringing drastic improvements in delivery efficiency. Virtual reality and more recently augmented reality are now used extensively to immerse the user in an extraordinarily life- like but safe new world. This new technology hasn't taken away the role of the engineer, the CAD tech- nician, or the site operative. It enhances the ability of the stake- holders to collaborate and to investigate potential issues that were perhaps not obvious from a 2D drawing or photo. Some studies have shown that using VR and AR to simply imagine doing a certain activity activates the same parts of the brain as if that person were physically carrying out the role. This has amazing poten- tial for all elements of life. The key to this change is that humans will still engage with each other – they will simply use automated informa- tion or visualisation to make smarter and more informed decisions. Freeing minds Previously, a professionally trained engineer would have had the unenviable task of trawling through thousands of lines of data in Excel looking for, and potentially missing, some key anomaly. Now, this can be done automatically, more accurately and more quickly. Engineers can now apply their expertise and experience where it matters, using their 'old grey matter' to think around a problem. Multiple data analytic systems are now used extensively to do the mundane tasks that used to make engineers groan with despair. Engineers can now spend more time communicating with colleagues, armed with sen- sible conclusions, in a user- friendly format. This allows smarter investment choices, alter- native approaches, less construc- tion, lower fines for water compa- nies, better customer engagement, improved network management, reduced asset maintenance costs – the list goes on. Perhaps most importantly in my work, digital rehearsals mean that site activities can be meticu- lously planned to foresee the unexpected and ultimately improve health and safety, which sadly still blights the construc- tion industry. One good example of technol- ogy enhancing our lives is mobile phones. Originally designed to simply make a phone call, human inventiveness and intui- tion have led to millions of apps, each one with a business behind it and real people working on optimising the user experience. Now, I can almost fully work as a professional engineer from my phone – I can check email, sub- mit expenses, mark up a live digi- tal twin of a site, change set- points on a pumping station and even practice dismantling a valve. So a simple concept has led to a vast array of new capabil- ities and ideas. There are multiple challenges facing the adoption of technol- ogy, including ethical decisions involving altering behaviours, DNA manipulation, cyber secu- rity etc. Currently, though, the single biggest threat to humanity is not the robot or technology tak- ing jobs – it is climate change. Only by adopting and embracing new technology will we have any chance of countering it. Maybe this literal burning platform will give technological advances the digital catapult required. Culture shift In terms of employment, it is true that jobs will go, but this might include jobs we don't want humans to do anyway, and with technological advancements a wider range of jobs will arise. The rate at which new careers and services are emerging, creating new jobs and roles, appears at present to be rapidly increasing, not slowing. In some sectors, including medicine, education and profes- sional services, technology has raised productivity as well as allowing easier access to information. Similarly, the accelerating pace of communication has revo- lutionised most knowledge-based industries. Obvious US examples include tech start-ups generating mind-bogglingly large businesses from ideas originally developed in universities or even garages. The UK's education and research prestige, combined with engi- neering expertise, needs to be drawn upon to bridge that link between idea and thriving busi- ness, generating a wider range of occupations. UK water companies need to embrace the culture shi–. With strong leadership at CEO and board level, and effective com- munication of the benefits of technology, we will not be le– ploughing the fields. Developments in technology and AI should be welcomed by leaders of industry in order for its benefits to be successfully uti- lised. We need to embrace advancements that can positively shape the future of the sector, advancements that are possible to accept without forcing us to compromise on social needs for human interaction. Instead of 'the robots are com- ing', maybe the key message should be: 'come with us'. We can take safe drinking water for granted – Aquabox helps the millions who can't Aquabox is the 'fi rst responder' when disaster strikes, whether natural or man-made. Worldwide, there are 800m people who don't have access to safe drinking water – including people in disaster zones. Our simple, robust hand-operated fi lter pump protects against most water-borne diseases, and goes on working for years. One Aquabox fi lter pump – which costs just £25 – can produce 100,000 litres or more of safe drinking water. Aquabox is run almost entirely by volunteers, spends nearly all its income on disaster relief, and is totally reliant on donations. Companies in the water industry recognise the value of our work: the water treatment specialist Hydro-X, for example, is a long-standing Aquabox supporter, 'as is Faversham House, the publisher of Water & Wastewater Treatment and WET News, and organiser of Utility Week Live. Could your company become an Aquabox supporter? It could mean: • Attaching your name to a specifi c project • Building team spirit among your colleagues and sta' • Being seen to be a 'good citizen' • Achieving your CSR objectives • And helping to save lives Come and talk to us on stand H44 at Utility Week Live, see the Aquabox fi lter pump in action, and fi nd out what's involved in becoming an Aquabox supporter. www.aquabox.org Aquabox is a registered charity no 1098409 CP-Aquabox19-130x180ad.indd 1 10/04/2019 09:07 Challenge convention: visit hydro-int.com/services-ww-uk or call 0333 600 5004 We provide support services to keep water management systems operating at peak performance, saving time and money and enabling businesses to focus resources on their core operational objectives. hydro-int.com/services-ww-uk Looking for reliable, cost-effective spares and servicing for your water and wastewater equipment? Technical Support Spares Hire Refurbishment Maintenance Servicing

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