Author(s): Milad Rajaei; Usman Safder; Sarah Cotterill; Recep Kaan Dereli
Linked Author(s): Usman Safder
Keywords: Google Popular Times Real-time water consumption Occupancy data Non-residential water demand
Abstract: Accurate estimation of water consumption can help water utilities to manage resources and optimize distribution networks. While smart water meters are useful for this purpose, their high cost of implementation limits the availability of real-time measurements. To address this limitation, we propose an approach for real-time water consumption modelling using existing data sources. This approach integrates Google Popular Times (GPT) with a stochastic end-use water consumption model. GPT is a real-time occupancy data source, showing the occupancy levels of non-residential locations. The water consumption model calculates the water use probability of each water-using appliance at each time step based on the occupancy of locations. The model was tested to simulate water consumption of non-residential buildings, including restaurants, bars, and cafes, in Sligo city centre, Ireland. The results show that the proposed model can capture the dynamic variations of water consumption associated with changes in building occupancy. This capability enables the model to serve as a cost-effective substitute for smart water metering in real-time water management.
Year: 2025