SADASIVAM (SADA) KRISHNAN

Envirosuite, a pioneer of the Environmental Intelligence industry and a leading provider of AI and digital twin solutions, is a trusted partner to transform the water industry with the power of digital technologies.

Z Cristina Novo

Having grown up in the water-stressed city of Chennai, India, influenced Sadasivam (Sada) Krishnan to pursue a career in water that has now spanned 28 years. He joined Envirosuite earlier this year to lead the Water Business growth globally with the EVS Water Product line and with a focus on digital twins and machine learning/AI technologies. Based in Dubai, his role involves maintaining relationships with key stakeholders and providing input to the company’s product roadmap and strategic marketing efforts globally. SWM spoke with him about achieving the full potential of digital deployments, business partnerships and the application of digital solutions for desalination processes.

Digital solutions are one of the fastest-growing areas in the water industry. Can you comment on the role of business partnerships in this area, and what is Envirosuite’s strategy in this regard?

Having the right business partnerships is a crucial part of Envirosuite’s growth strategy. We recognise the importance of partnerships in driving innovation and growth in the water industry. By collaborating with other organisations, we can leverage each other’s strengths and expertise to implement innovative digital solutions that address the growing number of challenges our customers face. In many cases, these partnerships also provide new digital businesses or revenue streams for our partners and customers.

Our partnerships include collaborations with consultants, OEMs, EPCs, IoT (Internet of Things) manufacturers and integrators, chemical manufacturers, plant operators, and other software companies. We are continuously combining our expertise to develop and deliver innovative digital solutions that better meet the needs of our customers.

Technology is evolving very quickly. How do you leverage the power of AI and digital twin technologies to move beyond compliance and deliver gains in operational efficiency and environmental outcomes?

Our EVS Water portfolio includes our Plant Designer, Plant Optimiser and SeweX platforms. Each platform uses advanced algorithms and predictive analytics to provide real-time insights into water asset operations, water quality management and usage.

Plant Designer helps those in the design stage to skip the manual, repetitive and linear methods of water simulation. It allows users to create a digital twin of their water and wastewater treatment plant, enabling them to simulate and optimise its performance. This can help identify potential issues before they occur while enabling proactive maintenance and management.

Plant Optimiser takes this a step further for operational purposes. The digital twin platform uses artificial intelligence to analyse real-time data from water and wastewater treatment plants while providing actionable insights for operators to improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Our SeweX platform helps sewer operators manage odours, corrosion and safety in sewer networks proactively and efficiently. The platform uses deterministic modelling to identify sewer corrosion issues before costly and disruptive incidents occur. Alternative operating and control scenarios can then be simulated to identify the best approach for short-term response and long-term asset management.

By leveraging these advanced technologies, Envirosuite provides customers with powerful digital tools that help them move beyond compliance and achieve greater operational efficiency and improved environmental outcomes.

Could you discuss the importance of mapping priorities and evaluating progress to realise the full potential of digital deployments?

By clearly defining the goals and objectives of a digital deployment, businesses can ensure that their efforts are focused on areas that will deliver the greatest value. This can help maximise their return on investment and ensure that resources are allocated effectively.

Evaluating progress is also crucial in ensuring that digital deployments are delivering the desired outcomes. By regularly assessing the performance of digital solutions, businesses can identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions about how to optimise their operations. This can help to ensure that digital deployments are delivering the maximum value and contributing to the overall success of the business.

At Envirosuite, we understand the importance of mapping priorities and evaluating progress in realising the full potential of digital deployments. Our solutions are designed to provide real-time insights and analytics that enable businesses to make informed decisions about their digital strategies. By working closely with our customers, we help them define their priorities and measure their progress towards achieving their goals.

You recently participated in the MENA Desalination Projects Forum in Abu Dhabi. Can you share your takeaways concerning the application of digital solutions for desalination processes?

We had a great time at the MENA Desalination Projects Forum in Abu Dhabi! There was excellent customer rep- resentation from all MENA countries. Our booth was buzzing with traffic throughout the conference. We noticed a lot of excitement around the potential of our digital twin and AI technologies.

I also participated in a panel discussion on the topic of digital water with a focus on desalination where we had insightful discussions and excellent audience interaction during the Q&A.

MENA is the largest desalination market in the world. Any innovative technology in this space that can increase plant performance efficiency, while improving water quality risk management is received with great interest. We’re proud to bring game-changing technology to the desalination industry!

We’re also incredibly excited to announce that we have signed a major multi-license agreement with NEOM for our Plant Designer and Plant Optimiser products. NEOM’s primary focus is on sustainability and cutting-edge innovative digital technologies. Therefore, a partnership with Envirosuite – the world’s leading environmental intelligence provider - is the perfect match. Our products will help NEOM achieve water infrastructure and environmental objectives while optimising its water operations using innovative software solutions. Furthermore, we continue to have a growing pipeline in the Middle East with many active proposals under evaluation. Keep your eyes peeled for more exciting developments to come!

DANIEL MARTENS & SHEILLA DE CARVALHO

CLIMATE RISK INTELLIGENCE LEAD AT ROYAL HASKONINGDHV MANAGING DIRECTOR AT HYDROINFORMATICS INSTITUTE