title: Developing a framework for continuous use of models in daily management and operation of WWTPs: a life cycle approach.
abstract: We developed and evaluated a framework for the continuous use of dynamic models in daily management and operation of WWTPs. The overall aim is to generate knowledge and build in-house capacity for the reliable use of dynamic models in practice (within a regional water authority in The Netherlands). To this end, we have adopted a life cycle approach, where the plant model follows the different stages that make up the typical lifespan of a plant. Since this approach creates a framework in which models are continuously reused, it is more efficient in terms of resources and investment than the traditional approach where one always makes a new model for the plant whenever it is needed. The methodology was evaluated successfully at a 50,000 PE domestic EBPR plant (Haaren, The Netherlands). It is shown that the continuous use and update of models in a cyclic manner creates a learning cycle, which results in experience and knowledge generation about the plant's modelling that accumulates and translates into improvements into the modelling quality and efficiency. Moreover, a model is now always on-the-shelf for process optimization.
authors.affiliation: BIOMATH, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. gsi@kt.dtu.dh
authors.forename: Gürkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sin
authors.forename: Dirk J W
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: De Pauw
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weijers
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Vanrolleghem
mesh_terms: D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*