Bentley Systems recently concluded a Thought Leadership Workshop on the Use of Digital Twin Technology by India Water and Wastewater Systems, an event aimed at raising awareness about water digital twin solutions among governments, water utilities, and industry stakeholders. Hosted by Bentley Systems in collaboration with the United States Commercial Service and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the workshop, held on November 30, 2023, featured key industry leaders from the water sector, offering valuable insights into the role of digital twin technology.
Distinguished participants included D. Thara, additional secretary at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Dr. M. Dhinadhayalan, advisor at the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization; Dr. Sanjay Dahasahasra, member of the National Task Force at the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization; Jonathan Heimer, minister counselor for commercial affairs at the U.S. Commercial Service; Snehalkumar Bokare, industry director for water at Bentley Systems; and Mehnaz Ansari, senior regional representative – South Asia at USTDA India. The event drew the participation of over 45 senior delegates from organizations such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and various other key stakeholders in the water industry.
![Snehalkumar-Bokare](https://themachinemaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Snehalkumar-Bokare.jpg)
The workshop delved into the significance of digitization as a crucial component in achieving water resilience in India. Notably, government initiatives like Jal Jeevan Mission and AMRUT 2.0 have provided opportunities for the integration of advanced technologies to meet the growing demand for innovative and digital solutions in the water sector. The focus was not only on the adoption of digital twin technology but also on addressing climate change concerns in the water industry. The water lifecycle, encompassing preplanning, planning, construction, supervision, and asset management, was emphasized, highlighting the various assets created for the water industry, including distribution networks, storage reservoirs, water treatment plants, and sewage treatment plants.
The global wastewater industry faces key megatrends, including climate change, sustainability, United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), and achieving net-carbon zero emissions, all of which underscore the importance of digitization. The workshop highlighted the common thread across these trends—digitization, which plays a pivotal role in realizing the goals of providing clean water through well-informed decision-making and resilient, sustainable water infrastructure.
![Jonathan-Heimer](https://themachinemaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jonathan-Heimer.jpg)
At the recent COP28 event, a crucial focus was on the global acknowledgment of the urgent necessity for decarbonizing infrastructure. Establishing high-quality infrastructure is paramount for effective decarbonization, even though 75% of the required infrastructure is already in place. The creation of additional infrastructure is anticipated to span over two decades, introducing potential climate change challenges stemming from carbon emissions. Thus, the imperative lies in developing secure and sustainable assets, adhering to the greenhouse gases protocol. Ensuring carbon neutrality from the inception of product manufacturing is equally crucial. Currently, 61.67% of India’s economy relies on farming and agriculture. Climate change is wreaking havoc, evident in instances such as flooding in Rajasthan, a desert region, and widespread urban flooding due to heavy rainfall. These challenges directly impact agricultural production and India’s economy, underscoring the need to prioritize climate considerations in constructing water assets.
The water industry grapples with various challenges, including aging infrastructure, a maturing workforce, regulatory pressures, public scrutiny, escalating maintenance costs, climate change ramifications, nonrevenue water issues, and the mounting pressure to meet 2030 sustainability goals. Addressing these challenges is integral to fulfilling basic human needs for health and well-being, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6. It is imperative to fortify cities, ensuring resilience and sustainability through enhanced water management (SDG11), while simultaneously bolstering resilience and adaptation to climate incidents and natural disasters (SDG13).
Water leaders are actively embracing digital transformation to secure a resilient future. Bentley Systems plays a pivotal role in assisting users in navigating the sector’s challenges through technology that facilitates the creation of exemplary infrastructure. Digital twins have emerged as indispensable tools across the infrastructure lifecycle, influencing how assets are conceptualized, constructed, and operated. Bentley Infrastructure Cloud, with a focus on ProjectWise, serves as the cornerstone for managing infrastructure digital twins. This platform facilitates data unlocking and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to projects, propelling advancements in infrastructure intelligence.