As part of the Smart Water Infrastructure research project, techno-anthropologists in the Department of Culture and Learning are investigating the interaction between data-driven initiatives at water supply companies and the understanding and management of the new technologies by the operations staff. The project will generate knowledge on how to develop and implement the technologies at water utilities and promote global water efficiency.

In recent years, the world's water consumption has increased dramatically. Households, industries, food production and ecosystems have great difficulty in obtaining enough of this vital resource in many parts of the world. This creates a heightened need for new technologies in our water infrastructure in order to provide clean water for all parts of the world while also promoting global water efficiency.

Over the next three years, a research project entitled Smart Water Infrastructure (SWIft) at Aalborg University will investigate, experiment with and create greater knowledge on how to use data to improve smart management and control solutions in water systems. Jonas Falzarano Jessen, PhD fellow in the Department of Culture and Learning at Aalborg University, investigates the socio-technical and ethical aspects of optimising water systems.

- I am particularly interested in the social and technical consequences of implementing data-driven supply systems. Among other things, I will investigate how the use of new technologies like artificial intelligence will affect water supply companies as a workplace and in terms of working habits and practices, Jonas Falzarano Jessen explains, and he continues:

- Working at a water utility is a very sensory task. ?The operations staff listen to, see and touch the water systems on a daily basis to get a sense of the network. Of how it thrives. But those tasks are expected to be increasingly taken over by digital sensors. However, technology cannot do the work alone, which is why it is crucial that we have knowledge on how human intelligence and artificial intelligence can interact and coexist in the best possible ways.

Research in conjunction with operations staff

A large part of Jonas Falzarano Jessen's work consists of a field study done in conjunction with the municipal utility company, Lemvig Vand og Spildevand, and Denmark's international climate centre, Climatorium. In his field study, he observes and maps considerations, daily challenges and the real needs of the operations staff at the utility. This will contribute to knowledge on how to use new technological solutions that are in line with the expectations of the actors in the water supply companies.

- Many technological advances in the industry are driven by how far we can go with the technology. But now there is a greater belief that we should bring the people in the industry more into the equation. It's about developing technology based on what the actual challenges and needs are at the utilities rather than solely considering the potential of the technology in itself. This is where humanistic and techno-anthropological research plays a crucial role, concludes Jonas Falzarano Jessen.

Jonas Falzarano Jessen¡¯s techno-anthropological research runs from 2021 to 2024.

The PhD project contributes to SDGs 6 and 13 ¨C 'Clean Water and Sanitation' and 'Climate Action'.

Contact

Jonas Falzarano Jessen, PhD fellow, jonasfj@hum.aau.dk
Techno-Anthropology Research Group