Unified system for reading measurement points

Challenges:

• Operational Costs: For years, the Utility Company "Vodovod i kanalizacija" faced high operational costs associated with poor quality metering infrastructure. Outdated and unreliable water meters, inefficient meter reading, and complications with inputting meter readings into the billing system have contributed to this situation.
• Measurement Accuracy: A large number of low-quality water meters and measurement inaccuracies in the network, coupled with the inability to read actual consumption values due to numerous non-functional radio modules, have hindered precise measurement.
• Response Time: Due to irregular meter readings resulting from all the aforementioned difficulties, there is a prolonged period of problem detection after occurrence, as well as a low percentage of meters read monthly.
• Reading System: Meter reading is done in several ways, from dysfunctional remote reading applications to manual entry of consumption values on lists, followed by re-entry into the billing system, consuming too much valuable time.

Goals:

After observing the situation together with the partner's technical staff, several key objectives were established:

• Reduce operational costs of water resource management through more efficient monitoring and maintenance of infrastructure.
• Improve the metering infrastructure across the entire network.
• Enhance the accuracy of water consumption measurement through the implementation of modern metering technologies.
• Implement automation in metering and data transmission.
• Enable rapid identification and resolution of issues in the water supply network.

Solutions:

IKOM approached the project with the aim of addressing the key challenges faced by the client through the implementation of the most precise meters, measurement technologies, and reading systems.

1. Precise and Reliable Meters:

• The cornerstone of any measurement system is an optimally reliable meter. In this case, the focus was on digital volumetric meters V200H known for their exceptional dynamic sensitivity up to R=400, and extremely low starting flows of 1 l/h, ensuring accurate measurement of every drop. Regarding large-profile meters, emphasis was placed on combined C4000 meters of unmatched precision equipped with radio modules.

2. Communication Infrastructure:

• All installed radio meters in the system transmit signals on the wM-Bus 868 MHz protocol. The concept of having all meters in the system, whether radio or mechanical, read through one system, proved to be extremely effective. 
• Integration with the client's billing system was proposed to achieve automation and make the entire process even faster and more efficient.

3. Education:

• To ensure successful implementation and optimal use of the new measurement system, comprehensive education is required for the client's technical staff to use the new technology and measurement system effectively.

Implementation:

The project implementation proceeded with excellent engagement from the partner's technical staff and was carried out in the following phases:

Phase 1 – Installation of Advanced Meters:

• An assessment of the existing infrastructure was conducted, concluding that IKOM radio meters would be installed by zones to facilitate the entire process, as well as for potential implementation of fixed reading networks in the future.

Phase 2 – Implementation of Devices with Walk-by / Drive-by Reading Application:

• Each reader was provided with a handheld device, a robust Android-based device equipped with the IKOM Reader application, and a wM-Bus Receiver paired via Bluetooth. 
• The IKOM Reader application enables the input of consumption values from mechanical meters with automatic reading of consumption telegrams and alarms from radio meters in the same route. 
• Field readers can capture images of metering points, mark GPS locations, and enter all field observations through comments.

Phase 3 – Introduction of Software Platform:

• The IKOM Meter Data Manager server database was implemented for the administration and management of metering points and readings. 
• The database is automatically synchronized with the IKOM Reader application, making readings, alarms, photos, comments, and other data immediately available to the administrator. 
• Within the platform, all historical data about metering points from the day of addition can be viewed, meter alarms can be controlled and adjusted, consumption graphs, reports, and metering point photos can be reviewed, and exported in the desired format. 
• Reading routes are created according to numerous filters and client needs.

Phase 4 – Integration of IKOM MDM with ERP System:

• To achieve better automation, reduce preparation time and data entry, as well as minimize human error, synchronization of the two databases was conducted in collaboration with the partner's ERP system provider. Read data is automatically transferred to the billing system for invoicing.

Phase 5 – Education:

• Technical staff were educated on using the new reading system, including how to analyze readings, create reading and metering point preparation automations.

Results:

The implementation of these solutions has brought significant benefits to KD "Vodovod i kanalizacija" Rijeka, including:

1. Operational costs have been reduced through efficient maintenance and management of the network, metering infrastructure, and reading system.
2. Access to all historical reading data has provided administrators with a faster ability to detect anomalies and problems, reducing precious reaction time and consequences.
3. Automation in reading has contributed to much shorter reading times for each zone.
4. Improvement in measurement accuracy: Implementation of precise meters and a unified reading system has resulted in a significant increase in the value of billed invoices, to the great satisfaction of the partner.
5. Increase in employee satisfaction: The technical staff of the partner easily adopted the new reading system, which greatly facilitated their daily tasks.
6. Increase in customer satisfaction: Invoicing based on actual readings instead of estimates has contributed to increased satisfaction among end users.