Smart city and water resources management in urban areas
Kjučanin, S., Hadžić,E.: SMART CITY AND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN URBAN AREAS, Proceedings 2nd Conference on Urban Planning and Regional Development _sustainable urban development
- INTRODUCTION
Urbanization in low- and middle-income countries is one of the most influential transformation processes, changing the urban as well as the natural system at the local, regional, and global levels [1]. The new urban agenda officially adopted in 2016 in Quito also highlights the crucial role of cities in developing countries in the process of globalization based on urban processes [2]. The extremely rapid growth of cities deserves attention in urban planning and management through effective management [1]. Numerous authors have written about predicting urban development using new computer programs and the impact of urbanization on water and wastewater management, among them Clarke and Gaydos [3], Wagner et al. [4], Kantakumar et al. [5], Yadav [6], KarwotJan et al. [7], Manasa [8]. Water is spatially and temporally “irregularly” distributed, quantities are limited and of “increasingly unfavorable” quality for human use, which is necessary to keep in mind when talking about urban development [9]. Despite the well-known fact that water is the essence of human health, the basis of economic development and social well-being, it can be said that despite the current level of development of civilization, it is not used rationally or in a timely manner protected.
Urbanization brings with it many negative changes, some new problems, which either directly or indirectly affect water resources, starting from changing the microclimate in urban areas, air pollution, increasing noise, reducing parks and green areas, and similar. The increase in urban population, which occurs spontaneously in transition countries, results in the need to develop knowledge and tools for effective water resources management. It should be borne in mind that cities, from the aspect of use, management, protection, and conservation of water resources, are very complex systems, and their development is necessary based on knowledge of the availability and condition of water resources, analysis of existing and assessment of future pressures.
It is well known that economic development and urbanization lead to an increase in water demand of adequate capacity and quality to meet water needs. With urbanization there is an increase in the total amount of waste and water, urban floods, a trend of deterioration of the quality of wastewater, but also the recipient water, and ultimately a continuous deterioration of the quality characteristics of water resources in a given area. Unfortunately, the most common practice of developing countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, is to discharge wastewater directly into the recipient after collection. Such a shock load on watercourses regularly has major negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Rivers have a certain power of self-purification, however, if there is a continuous discharge of wastewater into watercourses, then the qualitative characteristics of the river change (decrease) in the long run [10]. When it comes to the protection of urban areas from floods, torrents, landslides, etc., first of all we should emphasize the fact that a significant anthropogenic transformation of the urban environment actually affected the water cycle in urban areas. By increasing surface runoff, turning natural areas into paved ones, and significantly reducing water infiltration, cities are increasingly facing the problem of flood protection. According to some authors ([11], [12]) the functioning of cities primarily depends and will depend on the quality and quantity of water management and distribution within their spaces.
The expansion of cities very often usurps the protected areas and areas of water protection zones, which in the long run can have very negative consequences for the environment, ie water resources. Contaminated or polluted groundwater sources take decades or hundreds of years to recover before they can be reused for water supply. This information should be a sufficient warning to the responsible political actors to take into account the protection and sustainable development of natural resources when analyzing and adopting development plans and strategic documents.
A new approach to water resources management that could be crucial in their conservation and sustainable use is the concept of “integrated water resources management” (IWRM). Integrated water resources management is most often defined as a process that “promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, with the aim of maximizing the economic and social benefits arising therefrom, in a equitable manner and without compromising the sustainability of key ecosystems” [13].
According to [14], sustainable water management is planned and managed in a way that meets the goals set by society now and in the future, without compromising ecological, environmental and hydrological integrity. Given that not all factors affecting water resources can be predicted, as well as the fact that water management objectives change over time, it is necessary to revise them periodically.
It is important to emphasize that for efficient integrated water management, it is crucial to collect, process and analyze the information necessary to make correct and timely decisions..
- SMART WATER MANAGEMENT IN CITIES
With rapid urbanization, cities are, among other things, facing problems in providing financially viable water supply and wastewater services for their citizens. Improvements in solving this problem can be provided by information and communication technologies. Such technologies that are adapted to continuous monitoring of water resources (starting with meteorological and hydrological data, data on springs, network, facilities, water quality, etc.) and diagnosing problems in the urban water sector enable classification of priorities and more efficient maintenance of existing water supply and sewerage networks. Therefore, coordinated development and management of urban waters is often recommended in the literature, which will enable cities to strengthen institutional capacities while improving the sustainability of their natural resource base [15].
It is the development of smart cities (Smart City) in which information and communication technologies are used for data collection and analysis that use process automation and enable integrated public service systems, with the aim of reducing service costs, preserving the environment and managing city assets. Its key features are efficient management of resources, processes and public services, infrastructure, and active participation of citizens in city development planning. One of the basic infrastructures in the city is related to the city’s water supply, wastewater disposal, and generally water resources.
2.1 Integrated water resources management
Although there is no single, comprehensive definition of integrated water resources management, the Global Water Partnership (GWP) definition is most often cited and used, emphasizing that IWRM is a process that promotes coordinated development and management of water, land, and other related resources, to maximize the resulting economic and social wealth reasonably, without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems [13]. This approach to integrated management enables the management and development of water resources in a balanced and sustainable way, taking into account social, economic, and environmental factors and interests. The concept of integration in water resources management is extremely complex because it includes several different aspects of natural resource management and very different needs of different users. Integration is therefore considered from the aspect of two basic categories [13]:
(i) the natural system, which determines the availability and quality of water;
(ii) the social system, ie. the influence of the human factor, which determines the use of water resources, and the production of wastewater and pollution of water resources.
According to [16], it follows that IWRM deals not only with the development and management of physical components of water and other related resources but also with the reform of human (social) systems for them, in their segment, to make optimal contributions to maximum benefits. them. This component of the IWRM mainly relates to policy setting and implementation of the planning process, in particular through the provision of conditions:
(i) that the impact of water must be taken into account when setting policy and establishing priorities for sustainable development at all levels of decision-making, taking into account the two-way link between macroeconomic policies and the development, management, and use of water resources,
(ii) that the strategy and development plan of the water sector cannot be done correctly if they are not a “product” of coordinated cross-sectoral cooperation achieved within the framework of development policy,
(iii) that various stakeholder groups, as well as the poor, must be involved in the planning and management process,
(iv) that water-related decisions taken at the local and river basin levels cannot conflict with each other or conflict with broader national objectives,
(v) that Integrated Water Resources Management Plans and Plans are incorporated into broader social, economic, and environmental long-term goals.
Raising awareness of the complexity of water resources management has led to the involvement of a larger number of stakeholders – politicians, urban planners, investors, various public companies, builders, environmental associations, and citizens themselves. The basic idea of the guiding principle of this approach to water management is that water resources, either in urban areas or beyond, should usually be managed integrally, holistically (but in the full sense of the word).
Well designed IWRM is implemented in practice with great difficulty, because cannot be expected the interests of all users of water resources or stakeholders are equal, or that ultimately everyone equally cares about the sustainability of water resources, the needs of future generations. It is difficult to reconcile the interests of water experts, scientists, investors, politicians, the NGO sector, etc. Very often the very concept of sustainable management is used as a phrase to get political points, but the essence of the problem is completely irrelevant. Reconciling sustainable development and cross-sectoral planning is a real challenge for scientists, experts, but it should also be for politicians.
If we look at the expansion of cities, which in countries in transition, such as BiH, is completely spontaneous, we can say that the situation on the ground is very worrying. Thus, for example, the goal of investors is new investments, new buildings that are most often built in areas that are either in protected zones, or zones that should have been exempted from any construction. Each new facility requires a completely new supporting infrastructure, starting with water supply, sewerage, traffic, etc. It is illusory to talk about the consciousness and conscience of man to the detriment of his financial well-being arbitrarily preserves nature, invests in wastewater treatment, adequately disposes of solid waste. builds roads with adequate collection and treatment of rainwater, etc. If we add the fact of non-existence of monitoring of environmental parameters, data on the state of the environment before construction, adequate information on the current state of the environment-state after construction, but not short-term, environmental impacts, and appropriate punitive measures, and the like, it is almost illusory to emphasize the need for an integral view and solution of problems concerning water resources. It is important to emphasize that for efficient integrated water management, it is crucial to collect, process, and analyze the information necessary to make correct and timely decisions. According to the basic concept of the IWRM concept, the information should be available at the river basin level. However not any information and data. These are data that are either measured in the field or descriptive data, textual or analytical results, the results of modeling, etc. These are not just data relating to the quantitative and qualitative state of water, and water-related ecosystems. These should be the data necessary to be able to make adequate strategic decisions. This means that it is also data on agriculture, pedology, geology, geomorphology, climatology, migration, development, and needs of the economy, human diseases, and the like. However, these do not need to be static data. They must be dynamic, collected, and analyzed continuously, in space and time, and must be accessible to a certain level and the population.
The water cycle (water resource, production, distribution, consumption, collection, and treatment of wastewater) plays an integral part of the urban system, affecting every pillar of urban society and its functionality, maintaining population, generating energy, supporting tourism and recreation activities, ensuring the environment and healthy people, and encouraging local economic development. Such increasing convergence encourages urban growth, as more than half of the world’s population currently resides in urban areas [15]. Therefore, water management is a development challenge and this statement should be binding. Water management is the basis for the development of the economy, society, environmental protection, human health, economic well-being. However, population growth, and the processes of very intensive urbanization, greatly increase the pressures on water resources. Virtually every development project in the 21st century, starting with energy security, food production, management of “intensive processes” of urbanization, environmental protection, adaptation to climate change, requires very close interaction with water management. Thus, the current challenges closely related to water resources management, both in BiH and in the world, are related to the impact of climate change on water management, natural disasters, migration, strengthening societal resilience, infrastructure development, developing river basin management plans, strengthening institutions in the water sector, strengthening water policy, etc.
The OECD report “Water Safety for a Better Life” suggests that achieving water safety goals means maintaining acceptable levels for four water risks: risk of scarcity (including drought), risk of inadequate quality, risk of excessive water (including floods), and risk from undermining the elasticity of freshwater systems (e.g., by exceeding the ability to cover surface and groundwater bodies). This approach testifies to the growing awareness of the importance of addressing water-related challenges from an integrated, holistic perspective, taking into account acceptable levels of risk, as well as their potential consequences (economic, environmental, social) on urban stakeholders. The city water service must therefore ensure proper management of water supply and distribution, water and wastewater treatment, and other utilities (Figure 1) [15].
Figure 1. Smart water management [17]
Despite continuous research work in the field of smart water management, the use of advanced high-quality tools and real-time monitoring services in urban areas is still far from being achieved. The main obstacles to the development and adoption of smart water management solutions are related to difficulties in collecting accurate monitoring data, lack of interoperability standards, and the use of simple data mining and data visualization techniques that do not fully exploit data value [18].
- USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a country known for a large degree of use of information and communication technology for the distribution of professional data (both for its own needs and for the needs of other business entities). Based on the results of research (statistical data of Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina – FB&H and Republika Srpska – RS) on the use of information and communication technologies in companies for 2019, a trend of the increasing use of broadband Internet can be observed . Thus, statistical data (Figure 2) for 2019 (for FB&H and RS) say that in FB&H 98.7% of companies use the fixed broadband internet connection, while in RS this percentage is 97.5%; in FB&H 62.8% of companies have a website (3% less than in 2018), while in RS this percentage is 64.0%; in FB&H web business is used by 23.4% of companies, and in RS this percentage is 15.7% ([20], [21]).
Figure 2. Statistics for 2019
Web or electronic business, by definition, is the management of business processes on the Internet. These e-business processes include buying and selling goods and services (E-commerce ), customer service, payment processing, production control management, collaboration with business partners, information exchange, launching automated employee services, hiring, etc [22]. Thus, it can be concluded that electronic business requires intensive application of information and communication (especially Internet) technology. From the statistics, it can be concluded that, for business purposes, a relatively large number of companies use the Internet, but very few of them use this network for web business. It can be assumed that the reason for this is the very low speed of data transfer via the Internet (only 9.5% of business entities in FB&H have a data transfer speed higher than 100 Mbit/s) (no data for companies in RS). On the other hand, for the needs of efficient city management, ie creating preconditions for the construction of smart public service, as one of the segments of the Smart City, it is necessary to work on the systematic availability of all data in electronic form.
3.1 Interoperability of data and their exchange
It is necessary to reach an agreement concerning the architecture of the ICT communication network as well as such a data model that will meet the needs of different services. Standardization of individual components, processes and systems and interoperability between different manufacturers are a prerequisite for the successful implementation of all segments of smart cities [23]. The term interoperability means the mutual activity of hardware or software from different manufacturers to understand and share data. Data interoperability implies the application of a common standard for data exchange, and reducing the number of operations required for the exchange of different types of data [24]. There are different types of interoperability: legal interoperability implies harmonized legislation, organizational interoperability implies the implementation of coordinated work processes between different institutions and companies; semantic interoperability implies defining the precise meaning of each information, while technical interoperability implies the technical connection of the system [25].
Table 1. Phases of the conceptual model of interoperability [26]
Data discovery, retrieval and transformation, and the use of data should be provided to the public sector free of charge, and the private sector with minimal compensation – following the business model of the spatial data infrastructure. This enables the connection and exchange of data, thus reducing the redundancy and cost of creating new datasets. Also, the available time is spent more efficiently on achieving project results, ie the implementation of business goals, without the user having to worry about whether the data is interoperable. For data to be exchanged successfully and securely, it is necessary to use certain applications, certain architecture and procedures must be met (Enterprise Application/system integration & data exchange; Business Process Management; Enterprise Architecture & Process Modeling; Business Activity Monitoring; Electronic Data Interexchange (EDI) & Trading Networks). Of course, all this should be within the legal and technical rules prescribed by the Government and / or its bodies (Spatial Data Infrastructure Council (URL8), administrations, agencies, ministries, etc.). When it comes to Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), it is the networking of existing spatial data into a single network, regardless of when who, it is, how, and with what accuracy the data is collected. Not to be confused, it is about connecting existing spatial data. To successfully implement the SDI, it is necessary to work on the harmonization of existing data sets, and for future sets on their standardization and harmonization of their quality. This achieves the requirement for interoperability of spatial data and services and thus achieves more efficient work on data sharing [24].
3.2 The role of spatial data infrastructure in smart city management
The term Spatial Data Infrastructure was coined by the US National Research Council in 1993 to highlight a framework of technological, political, and institutional agreements that together allow the creation, exchange, and use of geospatial data and associated information resources within the information-sharing community. SDI can be applied to a limited extent, to allow the exchange of geospatial information within an organization or beyond for application at a national, regional, or global level. In all cases, the spatial data infrastructure provides information producers and users with an institutionally regulated and automated way to discover, evaluate, and exchange geospatial information. The ultimate goal of SDI is to establish an efficient and streamlined system that will allow individual data to be collected and processed only once and used repeatedly, ensuring that the data used by different users is standardized in content and meaning. SDI was initially conceived and developed for official spatial databases and databases, ie public users – SDI subjects, but with its establishment, SDI or similar models are increasingly applied in the commercial segment of collection, production, and use of spatial data. The establishment of SDI is specific compared to other modern concepts that rely on spatial data because SDI is the basic basis for all other concepts, which is implicit but invisible to the user [24].
On the other hand, we have Smart Cities composed of different elements (smart economy, smart governance, smart people, smart mobility, smart environment, and smart living) that are, directly or indirectly, related to the position in space (spatial data or geodata). Spatial data in SDI should be standardized according to common rules, enabled through different technologies, and respecting a common data sharing policy. Thus, the creation of an efficient spatial data infrastructure is linked to the creation of smart cities. Smart cities use patterns represented in the spatial data infrastructure: cartography and visualization, spatial data updating (field or aerial), data management, data analysis, data sharing and collaboration, decision support system, spatial planning, and crowdsourcing . SDI allows smart cities to interconnect data, but the prerequisite is to define semantic interoperability.
4 Conclusion
In addition to these challenges, sectoral politicization has encouraged short-term decision-making, while management goals and strategies are often limited to the mandate of the elected government. Insufficient capacity development and outdated management practices make decisions that are made with inadequate information or lead to poor implementation. Without capable staff and relevant information, the adoption of new technological solutions needed to improve water management in the city becomes unfeasible. Poor leadership and governance within the urban water structure have limited the sector’s ability to respond effectively to many existing and new water-related challenges.
For efficient management of water resources within urban areas, it is necessary to use all available information and communication technologies, experiences, knowledge, enhance cross-sectoral coordination, enable a better understanding of science and policy, so that it can be managed wisely, and thus contribute to Smart City development.
Despite continuous research work in the field of smart water management, we cannot be satisfied with the current use of advanced, sophisticated tools, techniques, and technologies, and the opportunities provided by modern monitoring in urban areas. Difficulties and inconsistencies in monitoring the state of the environment, and thus data on water resources, lack of adopted interoperability standards, and simple data visualization tools, are just some of the significant obstacles to more efficient and purposeful water resources management.
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