Page 307 - Shaping smarter and more sustainable cities - Striving for sustainable development goals

Optimization tools aim to finding the technical, environmental and financial best solution from
models, therefore "optimization tools and principles have made it possible to develop prescriptive
models for optimal management of large scale water resources systems, incorporating ubiquitous
uncertainties in the prediction of natural processes and the economic impacts" (Datta and
Harikrishna). By incorporating optimization tools, decision making in the planning, design and
operation water resources systems can be achieved in an efficient and effective manner.

Models, optimization tools and decision support for network management urban water and
wastewater are able to calculate and forecast consumption, reduce costs through the optimization
of operations, plan and evaluate strategies and conduct vulnerability studies.

Web‐based Communication and Information System tools

Information and knowledge management are increasingly recognized as important features in
effective and efficient work in the water sector (Dondeynaz et al. 2009). The main problem is that
more data within in the water sector are large, complex, unstructured and fragmented. However
Web‐based interfaces and online platforms provides a solution for proper management, display,
and retrieval of relevant information necessary for water managers/operators, urban planners,
governments and the public alike.

Figure 55 – The Brisbane City Web based Flood Map
Source: http://www.sweetmaps.com/blog/wp‐content/uploads/2011/01/BCC_esri_flood_map.jpg

Web‐based servers offer access to integrated information from heterogeneous data sources, as well
as the innovative tools for analysis and assessment of a broad area such as climate change, water
scarcity, human health, sanitation and urbanization necessary for proper urban water management.
Integration of such web based communication tools using open communication standards allow a
range of stakeholders to connect to the system, to use or add to its resources.

Information and Communication systems which are composed of two parts can enable both the
general public and administrators to access relevant information; allowing for transparency and
visibility of current water related activities by the specialized users (such as water managers,
municipalities, governments), building trust and better public/stakeholder involvement. An intuitive
and user friendly interface, means that there can be ease of data acquisition and dissemination
especially for the public.

ITU‐T's Technical Reports and Specifications 297