Innovyze Releases Next Generation InfoWater VCM, the Ultimate Solution for Infrastructure Criticality and Vulnerability Assessment

 

Innovyze Releases Next Generation InfoWater VCM, the Ultimate Solution for Infrastructure Criticality and Vulnerability Assessment 

Latest Version Delivers Unprecedented Capabilities for Improved Water Infrastructure Maintenance and Operational Effectiveness

 

Broomfield, Colorado USA, June 11, 2012 — In its ongoing quest to equip the global drinking water industry with the world’s most comprehensive and innovative GIS-centric smart water network modeling and management solutions, Innovyze today announced significant new enhancements to its InfoWater VCM (Valve Criticality Modeling) software. Since 2006, VCM has been available as an extension of the industry-leadingInfoWater Suite, and with this new version users have expanded power and flexibility to identify all vulnerabilities affecting their water distribution system reliability, estimate the extent and potential consequences of infrastructure failure on customer service levels, optimize the allocation of rehabilitation and maintenance resources, and improve knowledge of system operation.

Valve criticality assessment identifies which valves most crucially affect the scale of impact of potential system failures. InfoWater VCM automatically carries out a comprehensive assessment of the hydraulic impact of valve operations on customer service levels, when the valves either are shut or fail to shut during planned or emergency work. This information is essential in ensuring that future expenditures (maintenance and replacement) are focused on the valves most vital to maintaining the serviceability of these key infrastructure assets. Pinpointing these critical valves requires an understanding of the risk (probability and consequence) should the valve fail to shut. Consequence is measured in terms of the numbers of properties (and customers) that would be disconnected or experience unacceptable levels of service (e.g., low pressure or loss of supply). 

Built atop ArcGIS (Esri, Redlands, CA), InfoWater seamlessly integrates sophisticated analytics, systems dynamics, and optimization functionality directly within the ArcGIS setting. From fire flow and water quality simulations, event backtracking analysis, and energy cost and carbon footprint analysis to pressure zone management and advanced genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization, the InfoWater product suite comes equipped with everything water utility owner-operators need to best plan, design, operate, secure, and sustain their distribution systems. The software also serves as a base platform for advanced modeling, operational, asset management, and capital planning extensions. Among these critical applications are IWLive(real-time operations and security), InfoWater UDF (unidirectional flushing). CapPlan (risk-based capital planning), InfoWater MSX (multispecies, temperature, and particle transport/deposition modeling). InfoSurge(surge/transient analysis and design), and InfoMaster (analytics-driven asset management).

Key new functionality in InfoWater VCM includes:

  • Automated network model element construction from GIS layers, including use of GIS layer-based gate-valve elements directly for closeable element definition to achieve a more representative description of isolation operation.
  • Complete analysis and reporting of disconnected elements and affected areas, including total demand shortfall, total disconnected pipe length, and disconnected pipe diameter range (minimum, maximum, and average).
  • Improved tracing functionality.
  • Direct criticality modeling of any subnetwork.
  • Enhanced hydraulic performance assessment on total affected demands, no-service demands, low and high pressures, pressure drops and increases, loss in levels of service, high pipe velocities, and flow reversals.
  • Comprehensive reporting on affected areas, including closed area, disconnected area, and combined area as well as assessment summary on junction and pipe performance.
  • Complete color-coding of assessment results for visual inspection.

“The new InfoWater VCM release reflects our continuing commitment to provide significant competitive advantages for our users through the evolution of smart water network modeling technology,” said Paul F. Boulos, Ph.D., BCEEM, Hon.D.WRE, Dist.D.NE, F.ASCE, President and COO of Innovyze. “By greatly extending the core features of InfoWater, this latest release enables water utilities to quickly determine their hidden water system vulnerabilities and helps them develop optimal operational strategies that minimize costs while enhancing system reliability, integrity, and performance. Customers are adopting this breakthrough technology at a rapid rate.”