Adaptive Infrastructure Management for Environmental and Water Resources: A Conceptual Approach

This paper outlines an approach to the development of adaptive management as a tool in the environmental and economic sustainability of community water supply systems by providing a framework to incorporate information into critical policy decisions. Adaptive management seeks to provide optimal management scenarios of water systems. The specific elements in the development of this approach rely on the deployment of a real-time monitoring and predictive modeling framework using sensor networks, soft computing and information systems; the development of risk-cost analysis methodology for water systems management under uncertainty; and the development of a conceptual approach for multi-scale adaptive management of wastewater treatment facilities. The approach relies heavily on the definition of the role of emerging sensors and sensor networks, soft computing, uncertainty analysis, and advanced information systems.