WATEREX-AN EXPERT SYSTEM FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF WATER TREATMENT PLANTS

Abstract

Knowledge-Based Expert Systems are interactive computer programs that capture the specific knowledge of a particular domain and mimic the reasoning process of human experts to accomplish tasks that normally require competent specialists for their completion. It has been experienced that in the field of environmental engineering, there are a number of problems that are not amenable to purely algorithmic conventional software. The problems of this kind require experience and judgement on the part of the engineers and operators. One of these applications is in the decision-making process for operation and maintenance of water treatment plants. This dissertation addresses the problem of design, development and implementation of an expert system for operation and maintenance of water treatment plants. The expert system has been developed on an experimental basis using the shell EXSYS and has about 300 rules. In its ADVISORY mode, the expert system offers the user, advice or information on various processes in different units of a conventional water treatment plant. In its DIAGNOSTIC AND REMEDIAL mode, the expert system diagnoses the cause of a particular operational problem, given the symptoms and suggests the possible remedial measures.