Cantone, Joshua

Dr. Joshua Cantone is the CEO of Optimatics, and has over 15 years experience working with water utilties in the USA, UK and Australia. Dr Cantone has...

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About Cantone, Joshua

Dr. Joshua Cantone is the CEO of Optimatics, and has over 15 years experience working with water utilties in the USA, UK and Australia. Dr Cantone has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and is currently pursuing at Executive MBA at the Univeristy of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Cantone, Joshua

Titles from this speaker

Description: Denver Water's Integrated Approach to Linear Asset Replacement Leveraging the...

Denver Water's Integrated Approach to Linear Asset Replacement Leveraging the Optimizer WMR Software Solution

Abstract

Historically, determining which pipe assets should be replaced has been a highly manual process that relied heavily on individual judgement to balance factors such as break history, pipe condition, consequence of failure, fire flow deficiencies, lead service line replacement, paving moratoriums and feasible project sizes. Recognizing these challenges, Denver Water looked for a software that 'could create a comprehensive, dynamic and defensible plan using data from across Denver Water's utility to optimize main replacement'. Working with Optimatics, Denver Water has established a process to incorporate Optimizer for Water Main Replacement (WMR) in their development of their annual water mains replacement plan, as depicted in the attached diagram. Denver Water first collates data sources across the organization into a single GIS file, then uses a pipe grouping tool developed by Optimatics to generate potential projects which is used as input to the Optimizer WMR. Working with Optimatics, Denver Water has translated business priorities into optimization parameters. Optimizer WMR takes the input data, potential projects, and business parameters and runs hundreds of thousands of combinations, resulting in a set of solutions which provide the maximum benefit across the defined priorities for the lowest cost possible. The engineer in charge of this process identifies a shortlist of plans that are promising options. These are then exported into ArcGIS where a dashboard developed with Optimatics highlights important metrics and serves as the basis for conversation within Denver Water stakeholders. Once a plan has been agreed upon, they can export the plan data back into an internal ArcGIS file that is accessible to users across the organization to implement the agreed-upon plan. Denver Water has found that Optimizer WMR can highlight projects which meet multiple criteria that might be missed under the manual process traditionally used. A project with a likelihood of failure that is below the cutoff rate to determine projects in the traditional process may also contribute to fireflow deficiencies, or connect to a number of lead service lines, making it a more valuable replacement project than another with similar likelihood of failure but which does not address other issues. Optimizer can also prioritize projects in areas with previously scheduled road work to take advantage of the opportunity to replace pipes before a paving moratorium is in effect, and evaluates the distribution of spending across Denver Water's network to ensure that there is sufficient investment across the communities they serve. The process developed to incorporate Optimizer WMR into the annual planning process also facilitates internal discussions within Denver Water about priorities related to asset management. Tools like the ArcGIS dashboard are intended to structure the decision making process and improve internal communication by providing a detailed understanding of the entire plan and enabling engineers to justify their decisions to stakeholders. By focusing on integrating current systems with new technology and using data to streamline processes, Denver Water has leveraged Optimizer software to develop a water mains replacement plan more efficiently and transparently. The presentation will focus on how Optimizer WMR functions and Denver Water's experience with incorporating a new software into their processes.

This paper was presented at the WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference, February 21-24, 2022.

SpeakerCantone, Joshua

Presentation time

16:00:00

16:30:00

Session time

15:30:00

17:00:00

SessionAsset Management: Tools and Technologies

Session number27

Session locationHyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, Florida

TopicAsset Management, Business Intellligence, Capital Planning, Decision Making, GIS Application, Pipe, Prioritization, Technology Comparison

Author(s)

J. GormanJ. CantoneA. Hilliard

Author(s)J. Gorman 1; J. Cantone 2; A. Hilliard 3

Author affiliation(s)Denver Water 1; Optimatics 2; Optimatics 3

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Feb 2022

DOI10.2175/193864718825158227

Volume / Issue

Content sourceUtility Management Conference

Word count15

Description: Outcome Driven Approach to Balance Cost and Performance in the Bolivar North Master...

Outcome Driven Approach to Balance Cost and Performance in the Bolivar North Master Plan

Abstract

As SA Water continues to explore sustainable improvements for infrastructure performance, a new way of master planning has been developed for a large wastewater network in northern Adelaide. An innovative framework evaluates multiple, sometimes conflicting, level of service objectives, while minimising cost using the Optimizer software platform. Through this decision support platform, intelligent automation, cloud computing, and evolutionary algorithms are leveraged to optimise hydraulic solutions generated by a dynamic wastewater model (Innovyze InfoWorks ICM). This approach provides for more adaptive and dynamic master planning, and increased transparency for stakeholders, leading to enhanced optimization and prioritization of short and long-term infrastructure investment plans.

The following conference paper was presented at WEFTEC 2021, October 16-20, 2021. To read the full abstract, see "Abstract" tab below.

SpeakerCantone, Joshua

Presentation time

8:50:00

09:10:00

Session time

08:30:00

09:30:00

SessionInnovation in Asset Portfolio Decision Making

Session number410

TopicAsset Management, Policy and Regulation, Utility Management and Leadership

Author(s)

Joshua Cantone

Author(s)J.P. Cantone3; V. Sankey2; P. Premnath1;

Author affiliation(s)SA Water, Adelaide, SA, AU 1WSP, Adelaide, SA, AU 2Optimatics, Chicago, IL3

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct, 2021

DOI10.2175/193864718825158092

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count15

Base text size -

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