A new generation of intelligence applied to water is being born with the STREAM project
STREAM is the new operation from A2O – Água, Ambiente e Organização that aims to redefine the way the urban water cycle is monitored and managed in Portugal. Co-funded by COMPETE 2030, the initiative relies on an integrated platform that combines Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to anticipate events, detect anomalies and support real-time decisions, overcoming the limitations of traditionally fragmented water infrastructures.
‘STREAM will make it possible to take a qualitative leap forward in the monitoring, predictive analysis and real-time management of the urban water cycle,’ explains Pedro Vieira e Moreira, Director of A2O – Água, Ambiente e Organização. ‘By combining advanced AI/ML models with NAVIA management processes and operational data, we will advance the approach to predictive infrastructure management, increasing operational efficiency, infrastructure resilience and the safety of the water supplied to the population.’
The operation responds to increasingly pressing challenges: accelerated urbanisation, pressure on water resources, degradation of water quality and the difficulty of integrating emerging technologies into existing systems. To fill these gaps, the A2O-NAVIA (leader) and TecMinho consortium has structured a plan of seven activities to be carried out over 36 months. In the first phase, historical data will be analysed, pilot systems defined and information quality ensured. This will be followed by the development and validation of predictive computer models capable of identifying errors and anomalies in water supply and quality. The third phase materialises in the pilot implementation of the solution, the results of which will be compared with traditional approaches.
Innovation stands out on several fronts. Advanced data analysis tools can recognise operating patterns over time and increase reliability in detecting irregularities. The integration of meteorological and socio-economic data sources ensures richer contextual analyses, while interactive dashboards offer operators a unified, constantly updated view of the system. At the same time, interoperability modules strengthen the connection between different management platforms, resulting in faster and more informed decisions.
NAVIA brings more than 25 years of operational data and experience in water system management to STREAM, which is essential for training and testing the AI models. TecMinho contributes advanced knowledge in data analysis and computational modelling, guaranteeing the technical robustness of the solution and its effective transfer to the industrial context.
‘The support of COMPETE 2030 was decisive in turning this ambition into reality, accelerating research in a business environment, boosting collaboration with TecMinho and making it possible to mobilise highly qualified talent,’ says Pedro Vieira e Moreira, stressing that, already in the pilot phase, STREAM aims to achieve TRL 7 and ‘position Portugal at the forefront of advanced solutions for infrastructure management and, in particular, Smart Water solutions’.
By combining cutting-edge research with concrete operational needs, Operation STREAM promises not only to modernise the national water ecosystem, but also to create an exportable benchmark for intelligent water management, contributing to a more efficient, safe and sustainable use of this vital resource.