Chaini, Sahil

Chaini, Sahil

Sahil Chaini was a speaker at the WEFTEC 2024 conference in New Orleans, LA October 5-9, 2024.

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About Chaini, Sahil

Sahil Chaini was a speaker at the WEFTEC 2024 conference in New Orleans, LA October 5-9, 2024.

Chaini, Sahil

Sahil Chaini was a speaker at the WEFTEC 2024 conference in New Orleans, LA October 5-9, 2024.

Titles from this speaker

Emerging AI Technologies and Ways of Working to Optimize Water

Abstract

Technologies that leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced data analysis have been emerging in the water industry to ensure the stability and longevity of critical infrastructure. Three case studies are presented in this paper to showcase real-world examples of how AI has been used to reduce operational costs, detect issues to optimize spending, and streamline the design of water infrastructure assets. The challenges of implementing new technologies in the water industry will also be presented, particularly when traditional practices and processes need to be maintained to ensure customer satisfaction and reliability. The technologies presented in this paper 1) significantly reduce energy consumption at the raw water pump station, 2) decrease the pipe condition auditing effort by up to 30%, optimizing renewal spending by as much as 20%, and 3) reduce the time to generate a conceptual WWTP design by up to 80% to enable alternatives analysis of innovating technologies.

This paper was presented at WEFTEC 2023 in Chicago, IL.

SpeakerPaya, Karol

Presentation time

08:30:00

10:00:00

Session time

08:30:00

10:00:00

SessionEmerging AI Technologies and Ways of Working to Optimize Water

Session locationRoom S505b - Level 5

TopicDiversity, Equity & Inclusion, Intelligent Water, Intermediatee Level, Utility Management and Leadership

Author(s)

Paya, Karol Tatiana

Author(s)K. Paya 1; S. Chaini 2 ; A. Siqueira 3;

Author affiliation(s)Autodesk 1; Transcend 2 ; Vapar 3; 5;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825158981

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count11

Major Brazil Utility BRK Ambiental used Generative Design to Transform WWTP Project Evaluation and Reduce Conceptual Design Costs by 80%

Abstract

One of the biggest challenges for global water and wastewater utilities is their ability to rapidly assess cost and risk for capital projects - especially in new build, expansion, and rehabilitation of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). BRK Ambiental (BRK) presents a compelling case study of how to solve this challenge using generative design technology. BRK Ambiental is one of Brazil's largest private water and wastewater utility, addressing the essential needs of over 15 million people in more than 100 municipalities with a focus on sustainability and technological advancement. This abstract outlines how BRK, who owns over 300 WWTPs, adopted generative design technology in partnership with Transcend to transform their WWTP project evaluation processes. Problem: BRK Ambiental faced high costs and long timelines during wastewater project evaluations, which made adaptable master planning, new build, and upgrade strategies in an evolving regulatory landscape a major challenge. Manual design processes impeded their ability to effectively evaluate new technologies like energy-efficient blowers and advanced processes like MBBR and MABR. Solution: BRK Ambiental partnered with Transcend to transform their wastewater project evaluation process. By using Transcend Design Generator's (TDG) civil, mechanical, and process engineering outputs, BRK evaluated 8-10 more alternatives per facility to inform investment priorities. The partnership reduced design costs, improved facility operations, and ensured adaptability to changing conditions like population growth, stringent regulations, and rising energy costs. Outcomes: 1. Enhanced Cost Efficiency BRK's shift towards generative design was aimed at tackling operational inefficiencies, long project timelines, and the challenge of evaluating new technologies. TDG reduced BRK preliminary design costs by up to 80% and sped up the process from 2 months to 1 week, enabling more efficient project evaluation and execution. TDG enhanced BRK's ability to remain cost-competitive in WWTP concession contract bids and responsive to treatment demands in a rapidly evolving utility landscape. 2. Improved Decision-Making Advanced design analysis in TDG enabled BRK to evaluate and prioritize wastewater projects and new technologies, while remaining adaptable to changing conditions. By increasing the evaluated options per facility by 5x (from 2-3 alternatives to 10+), BRK improved its capacity to make informed decisions, aligning investments more closely with the utility's priorities of optimizing project outcomes while minimizing risk. The utility demonstrated the importance of using data and analytics to make more sustainable decisions. 3. Increased Operational Efficiency BRK used TDG to set dynamic benchmarks like expected chemical requirements and sludge disposal quantities, and compared them to actual parameters at a WWTP to identify ways to improve operations of existing facilities. BRK's workforce has not only improved its operational optimization but also embraced a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. The BRK and Transcend collaboration represents a successful partnership in collaborative innovation, where both parties brought unique strengths to the table. Transcend provided WWTP generative design solutions, while BRK offered in-depth industry knowledge and practical application. It highlighted how adopting advanced technologies, when coupled with a shared vision, can lead to significant benefits in water infrastructure management. This case study demonstrated how BRK adopted innovative solutions like generative design to significantly improve project risk management through cost efficiency, faster decision-making, and optimized operational performance. As the water sector continues to evolve, the lessons drawn from BRK's experience offer valuable insights for utilities around the world.

BRK Ambiental, one of Brazil's largest private water & wastewater utilities, transformed its wastewater treatment evaluation process using Transcend's generative design software, reducing design costs up to 80% & cut timelines from 2 months to 1 week. This enhanced decision-making aligned investments with priorities & increased operational efficiency, creating dynamic benchmarks & optimized facilities. Generative design can significantly improve cost efficiency, decision-making, & operations.

SpeakerChaini, Sahil

Presentation time

14:00:00

14:30:00

Session time

13:30:00

15:00:00

SessionAutomation and Analysis: Data-Driven Strategies Improve Utility Processes

Session number610

Session locationRoom 349

TopicAsset Management, Business Organization and Technology Transformation, Intelligent Water, Intermediate Level

Author(s)

Chaini, Sahil

Author(s)S. Chaini1

Author affiliation(s)1Transcend Software, ON, 2, NJ

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2024

DOI10.2175/193864718825159539

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count21

Base text size -

Chaini, Sahil

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