Riscon Solutions and Inventia UK
Introduction
Northumbrian Water challenge: Monitoring water quality within the distribution network and real time analysis
Northumbrian Water wants to improve its visibility and understanding of water quality within a designated district meter area (DMA). For this challenge it is looking to develop a workable sensoring regime within the DMA which would help monitor and manage water quality, flow and pressure in near real-time. In turn, this will help identify and notify potential and actual leaks within the system.
You can read more about Northumbrian Water and the two challenges here.
Angela MacOscar, Head of Innovation at Northumbrian Water, said:
“Being part of the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator programme allows us to open up some of our biggest challenges to the floor – meaning that we can welcome fresh and innovative solutions through collaboration with the start-ups in order to even further improve our exceptional customer service.
“Among some of our biggest challenges are sewer blockages and water network monitoring, and we can’t wait to see how the successful start-ups and scale-ups react and progress some solutions to these industry problems.”
This project is a joint collaboration between Riscon Solutions Ltd and Inventia UK
About Riscon Solutions Ltd
Riscon Solutions Limited is a UK based global consulting company specialising in information and knowledge management. It brings together specialists in physical engineering applications and digital expertise to develop optimum information system solutions for the engineering sector.
About Inventia UK
Inventia UK is a technology and innovation company providing disrupting and innovative end-to-end solutions for a broad range of sectors. With an unmatched blend of knowledge and expertise in telecoms, big data mobility analytics, and geospatial intelligence, Inventia delivered the first SIM-based track and trace solution and many smart city projects to help cities and organisations, around the globe, reach future sustainability goals today.
The solution
The ITERATION project delivers a cloud-enabled, remote water quality monitoring solution. The solution comprises a remote and self-sustaining water quality sensor module and associated cloud information system – utilised for signal capture, processing and analysis. This analysis will be integrated into Northumbrian Water operations and risk management framework, to improve operational performance metrics, such as reduced downtime of the system and cleaner, safer water delivered to households.
For industry the solution will:
Develop remote and self sustaining remote water quality sensor module
Develop associated cloud infrastructure for signal capture, processing and analysis
Integrate signal analysis into operational risk management frameworks
Top level business impacts will include the reduction in fines for the company and improved operational performance metrics such as reduced downtime of the system and cleaner/safer water delivered to households.
What the Made Smarter Technology Accelerator means to Riscon Solutions Ltd and Inventia UK
“The Made Smarter Technology Accelerator programme provides not only a stepped funding approach to allow for prototype development and presents the challenge in a project framework. The significant benefit of framing solutions within project consortiums and working closely with Northumbrian Water Challenge is that it allows resources from multiple locations to be aligned around one goal.”
“The Made Smarter Technology Accelerator, by Digital Catapult, is not only a great funded entry-to-market for us into the water supply market, but also a big opportunity to strengthen our existing smart city offerings. The Northumbrian Water challenge aligns perfectly with our vision to improve the life of humans and help organisations become more efficient. We are looking forward to helping Northumbrian Water visualise the water quality and flow throughout their massive network in the most cost-effective and innovative way”.
Business achievements
- Riscon Solutions Ltd – Funded project work with UNICEF and WHO on water quality testing
- Inventia UK – Innovate UK funding for Covid-19 response IoT technology
MVP presentation pitch
On 09 December 2021, the programme culminated with the minimum viable product (MVP) pitches. Watch the Riscon Solutions Ltd and Inventia UK pitch below.
5 minutes with Roger Singleton, MD, Riscon Solutions Ltd
Talk us through an average day in the life of a Riscon employee?
While each day is different, there is a common thread that runs through our days at Riscon Solutions Ltd. Startup life is all about thinking creatively to solve problems and add value.
So, a typical day could be described simply in five steps:
- Identify a problem
- Think about how to solve the problem and add more value
- Solve the problem
- Add value
- Repeat, repeat, repeat!
What’s the best thing about startup life for you?
Agility, opportunity and visualising a brighter future.
What’s it been like working with Northumbrian Water Group?
It’s been absolutely fantastic working with Northumbrian Water Group. The team’s commitment to the project has been amazing. There is a real internal drive there to solve this problem and it’s been a pleasure to be on this journey with them.
How do you think digital technologies are going to impact the water industry?
Digital technologies have the potential to send huge waves through all industries, but crucially, these technologies allow for full scale system visualisation for the first time.
What are your hopes for the future of your solution?
My hopes for our solutions align with the vision that is the DNA of Riscon:
“People using information with confidence and purpose, to achieve great results.”
What are your biggest learnings from the programme to date?
People are everything to a project’s success, so my advice would be get good people in place early. We’ve been fortunate enough to have a great team on this project.
What are you most excited about heading into the minimum viable product phase of the programme?
Learning about how to take a product to market. Taking a solution from seed to shelf is not something everyone will get to do in their lifetime, and it’s a really exciting time for us.
More to watch
Prototype Presentation
On 23 June 2021, the programme proudly presented the first phase insights and learnings for industry in an online event. Watch the Riscon Solutions Ltd and Inventia UK pitch below.