Hydraulic Networks and Pressurised Systems

REDHISP

The staff of the Hydraulic Networks and Pressurised Systems has over 30 years experience in research on the implantation and exploitation of mathematical models of pressurised water distribution networks. Their main field of activity is modelling pressurised mains and irrigation networks with the support of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and real-time centralised control systems (SCADA).

FIGARO

The most recent contributions are based on the improvement of EPANET simulation software to incorporate the results of the latest research carried out, and enable its integration into GIS and SCADA tools. Thus, specific software applications such as GisRed 1.0 have been developed, which integrates all the features of EPANET together with others added in ArcView, or GisRed 2.0 Pro, aimed at producing permanently updated models from a corporate GIS. Another notable development is the SCARed Software, which emulates the operation of a commercial SCADA, while integrating the EPANET simulator and feeds it in real time with the field data, properly treated and filtered. This allows real-time monitoring of non-measured variables or simulation and optimisation of control strategies in a water distribution network, thus providing a fundamental tool to support decision making during system operation.

As an extension of previous applications, the group has developed the HuraGIS Software for the rational use of water at the level of irrigation communities. This software allows continuous estimation of water that crops need from the obtained agroclimatic data, combining the GIS information of the irrigation community with the field information obtained via Internet from climatic stations and humidity sensorsin order to optimise the use of water through proper irrigation scheduling, taking into account the hydraulic capacity of the network and its pumping equipment. More recently the group has incorporated a new line of work related to the analysis of satellite images, to determine the phenological and stress state of the crops.

Currently, we are also working on the development of libraries and web services to encapsulate the new advances made in the modelling of the behaviour of hydraulic networks, in order to facilitate their incorporation into any working environment.

The main clients of this Area are the companies that manage urban water supplies, engineering, irrigation communities, etc. Thus, the most advanced management applications offered have been implemented into real systems through agreements and contracts with companies. In this sense, the team collaborates regularly with the “Grupo Aguas de Valencia”, carrying out all kinds of studies related to the planning and improvement of the Metropolitan Basic System of Valencia, as well as its real-time modelling based on SCADA data, and the making of automated detailed models from GIS.

Likewise, the applications developed by the group have been implemented in the “Empresa Municipal de Aguas de Malaga (EMASA), or in the “Acequia Real del Júcar” (ARJ) to manage the water distribution system from the sources of supply to the storage tanks. Throughout the years of existence, the group has also collaborated in drafting multiple Water Supply Management Plans.

The recent participation of the group in the European projects AGADAPT and FIGARO has allowed for the promotion of the group’s activities in the efficiency of the use of water and energy in agriculture, counting on an experimental field of orange trees in exploitation in Sector XI Of the Picassent CCRR, equipped with all kinds of sensors.

Research lines of REDHISP