Analysis of model simplification methodologies for integrated urban water system models - Optimizing model efficiency without jeopardizing accuracy

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The importance and advantages of evaluating and modeling Urban Wastewater and Stormwater Systems (UWS) as integrated, global systems are commonly recognized but not often applied in practice. Modeling these systems as Integrated UWS models (IUWSM) introduces the flexibility to develop and invest in solutions that minimize risk as well as provide greatest positive impact to the overall system at affordable levels of investment. This project proposes to research methodology improvements to developing IUWSM, looking at the step that involves the simplification of hydraulic models into conceptual surrogate models. The potential to create reasonably representative conceptual surrogate models was proven in multiple recent studies; however the current methods are neither widely used nor well-established. Stantec, having vast experience in developing detailed and simplified hydraulic models, coupled with Université Laval's modelEAU research team, whose expertise are in modeling approach optimization, will work on a 6 month analysis to further develop and optimize one of the methodologies involved with building (IUWSM), focusing on the development of the simplified hydraulic surrogate models. Some of the challenges to be dealt with during this analysis are looking at the adaptability of the methods to easily assess different scenarios and accommodate a wide range of inputs, and the ease in which the surrogate models can inform and integrate back with detailed models. A focus on improving the robustness, flexibility and efficiency of the general approach to conceptually represent the hydraulics in IUWSM will result in the largest benefit in terms of increasing accuracy, reducing simulation calculation times, and advancing their use to test a variety of real-life scenarios efficiently. This research will make it easier for regulators, utilities and municipalities to identify and invest in cost-effective solutions for our country's complex water resource challenges.