Innovation Challenge Fund (ICF) d.com



Innovation Challenge Fund (ICF)Concept Note Template 1.Name / Organisation OCEO WATER PRIVATE LIMITED2.Email address / Phone numberIndia@3.Title of ProjectLeak-Free Water Utilities4.Application for ICF ClusterAI/Data Science, Karnataka5.Co-Members of the Consortium *(Type – Indian Academia, Indian Business, International Academia, International Business, Indian non-commercial organisation, International non-commercial organisation, Other - specify)* Information not mandatory for the concept note stage.#OrganizationType1.Satellite Imaginary Provider (Identified) International Non – Commercial Organisation2.Geospatial Knowledge Expert (Identified)Consultant on Contract3.Data Analytics & Machine Learning Expert (Identified)International Business (UK)4.Oceo Water Private Limited (Software Development and Implementation)Indian Business6.If you do not already have agreed consortium members, please indicate here the kind of partners you would like to hear from. Looking forIndian Non-Profit Organisation Indian Academia 7. Are you content for us to publish your concept note on our web platform in order to encourage potential consortium members to reach out to you? Yes8.Funding Requested (up to ?250k)?200K - ?250K9.Co-funding provided (if any) and sourceNA10.Please summarise your Innovation Challenge Fund research project in one sentence. 350 character limitLeak-free Water Utilities - Beyond Today; for a Better Water World TomorrowOur proposed leak-detection technology for Water Utility Pipeline Infrastructure has high potential to provide vital information required to make decisions that will significantly impact the water utilities’ ability to provide the services promised to the consumers.11.Please describe your project further. What problem does your pilot seek to address? Who are the potential beneficiaries and other stakeholders? What are the inputs and activities, and what are the outputs? What does success look like after 12 months of funded research? How will your solution reach the market place? 2500 character limitA truly Global Challenge - Leakage in Water Pipeline InfrastructureWater utilities’ operations are typically funded by customer receipts (comprising water tariffs and one-off connection charges), grants, and taxes. Water Utilities often are pressurised from inefficient operations such as high non-revenue water (leakages, water theft, uncollected revenues), which exceeds 40 percent in IndiaAs themes like water scarcity, quality, urbanization and aging infrastructure are growing into major concerns; leakage in water distribution systems is an important issue which is affecting water supply utilities companies and its customers. Rapidly decreasing water sources & ever increasing demand for water calls for efficient utilization & conservation of each available drop.Inputs and Plan of ActionSpot: Develop highest-quality imagery with fast processing capabilityMeasure: Count, measure, classify and extract meaningful dataObserve & Knowledge: Track and map changes over time, providing well-organized data to enable better decision makingExecute: Use superfast, critical location intelligence to resolve unique local challengesStakeholder Benefits – Value for Water UtilitiesLocation of leakage and hence more water for publicEstablish response quotient for necessary action - a notice, alert or alarmMonitoring vegetation and rights-of-wayWatershed ManagementPilot and Adoption of TechnologyThe non-revenue water figures at Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in the recent times has ranged from 35-45%. Our initial conversations with the Water Utility (BWSSB) have established a strong ground for potential pilot and adoption of our technology in their routine working.We aim to work closely with BWSSB in predetermined wards of the Bangalore city and build necessary tools for the water utilities to create new ways of optimizing their water leakage losses to finding the right balance between covering operating costs, managing assets and supporting water conservation.Desired 12 month OutcomeOur proposed technology disruption has high potential to provide vital information required to make decisions that will significantly impact the water utilities’ ability to provide the services promised to the consumers. We imagine blended or hybrid water utility that incorporates the positive attributes of centralized water systems with those of off-grid and localized systems “powered” with digital solutions to optimize performance with improved customer panies with good systems to remotely control and operate networks and treatment plants usually perform better during any crisis. Similarly, automated protocols for responding to occurrences (such as pipe bursts) will allow for efficient response, with a lower degree of physical interaction among staff.12.What is ‘technological’ about your proposed solution and why might this be appropriate to the challenge areas?1000 character limitWe propose to use a combination of below technology while building the digital water applicationSatellite Imagery - Core Information SourceOur real source of disruption will be achieved by a combination of satellite imagery, real-time field data, management information system and big data analysis. Sensors & Data - Reliability of Data is KeyOur process will be dealing with large volumes of data that comprise both structured (easily searchable types) and unstructured (video, satellite images, social media, etc.) data coming from multiple sources.Data Analytics - Machine Learning (ML)Our Machine learning algorithms will be a core sub-area of artificial intelligence (AI) to learn the normal behaviour of a system from the retrieved data and will help in developing a model to use for predicting future behaviour for insights, optimization and future automation.Data Accessibility - Adoption of an API StrategyThe key to maximizing the use of big data is the ability to access the right data when it is needed by the applications. Our well planned APIs provide a programmatic way for retrieving data by any software application currently in use by Water Utilities. 13.Is your proposed solution a response to the impacts of COVID-19, or an effort to contain the pandemic? If so, please explain. 1000 character limit There is no more urgent a time to address and tackle the water crisis than now, when people are constantly being reminded of using water to fight the spread of the virus.Frequent and proper handwashing is the most basic frontline defence against the spread of COVID-19. The pandemic has heightened awareness of both the extent and consequences of this access gap, and it could slow down progress in meeting the SDG 6 development goal as revenue losses by water utilities affect their ability to make critical capital investments.We are concerned about the links between COVID-19 and water supply because:Inadequate access to water supplies impacts on hygiene and cleanliness, risking health and exacerbating the pandemic.Disruption to existing water supply services and disconnection of poorer, non-paying households increases the risk of other disease outbreaks.Increased burden of water collection is likely to fall on women and children.Operations could be affected by the increased risk of contagion among utility staff. Operational continuity and flexibility are key to keep essential water and sanitation services running. 14.Does your proposed solution contribute to combatting climate change or promoting a greener planet? If so, please explain. 1000 character limitWater monitoring is an essential component of evidence-based decision-making for managing present, and preventing future, water crisis. Management of Water Resources is a key factor in combatting Climate Change and keeping the planet greener.The need for evidence-based engineering decisions is greater now than it has ever been as we face climate uncertainty, increased pollution of our limited fresh water resources, and the increasing demands of our growing world population.The growing demand for water comes at a time when the potential for augmenting supply is limited, water tables are falling and water quality issues have increasingly come to the forefront. The value and impact of digital technologies in transforming centralized water utilities is clear as the global water demand and supply is changing. This transformation for utilities is a migration from a data-rich environment to more of a knowledge-rich environment.Perhaps the most challenging is acceptance by civil society that water is a valuable and strategic resource. As a result from our technology, we aim the transform the way we look at water in the new normal world. 15.How is your proposal relevant to the development challenges of India? 1000 character limitThe benefits of timely and relevant information vastly outweigh investments made in water monitoring. The water sector will benefit from the experience of other sectors in adopting new solutions as it works to ensure universal access to safe drinking water, water for business growth and economic development. Our work on water supply improvement has four main objectivesIn addition to the reduction of water loss and the financial savings, it will lead to optimum utilization of human resources employed by the Water Utility.Supporting service providers to maintain continuity of service with minimal disruption, and promoting continuity of service for low-income households during the pandemicEnsuring poorly served households and healthcare facilities have enough water for basic needs (including handwashing and cleanliness).Continuing to push at local and national levels for efficient supply systems and promote inclusive clean water supply to all in the longer term.Provide Water Utilities with reliable, data-led information to protect against over-use, prevent misuse, and detect abuse of the water resources. 16.What consideration have you made of gender in developing your concept? Could your project address gender inequality or other kinds of inequality? 1000 character limitTargets, such as those in the Millennium Development Goals relating to water, are unlikely to be achieved unless gender perspectives are integrated into planning and implementation activitiesChallenges of gender inequality in water include:?Women are disproportionately underrepresented in water sector decision making at many levels.Women and girls are often charged with domestic water collection, disadvantaging other spheres of life, such as education.Men benefit disproportionally from economic opportunities generated by the capital-intensive nature of water development and management.Women and girls have specific sanitation needs, both for managing menstruation and for protection against gender-based violence.?Water service delivery innovations can also strengthen the voice of women.? Again, in India, evidence has shown that community based service delivery mechanisms, the linkage of service delivery with the system of the state, and mechanisms of voice that make a state inclusive are therefore critical to ensuring that the state is able and can be held accountable to address the policy nexus defined by gender and water.???Notes: Please be kindly reminded of the primary criteria: relevance to the environmental and/or C19 agenda. See boxes 13 and 14. Except box 5, all boxes require mandatory response.In the interests of fairness, proposals that exceed the character limits will not be considered. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download