Remote Sensing, Mobile Applications and Open Data Science Tools for Better Monitoring of Sanitation Systems

Abstract

Safely managed sanitation services, monitored by the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, require data on treatment of excreta from sanitation systems. This data is not readily available for the majority of United Nations member states and has led to estimates being established mostly for those countries where conventional sewer-based sanitation systems are prevalent. Presented in this article is a decentralized portable treatment unit for the safe treatment of excreta and sludges from non-sewered sanitation systems. Data from daily operations is generated from a variety of sensors, each collecting approximately ten data points per minute. Innovative cloudbased methods and data science tools are implemented to collect, store and analyze data. A software platform was developed that offers real-time reporting and alerts to operators and supervisors, allows for remote operation and control, and provides a multi tier architecture that enables user interaction through a mobile or web interface. Key Performance Indicators and results from long-term analytics are presented to quantify the effectiveness of the treatment process and provide relevant information to improve daily operations.Engineering

Towards an off-grid fecal sludge treatment unit: demonstrating energy positive thermal treatment

“…Collected data is stored in a standard relational cloud database that provides a flexible and dynamic data management platform ( Schoebitz et al ., 2018). Open source data science tools were used for data analysis to increase reproducibility, collaboration and communication ( Lowndes et al ., 2017).…”

Financial Viability and Environmental Sustainability of Fecal Sludge Treatment with Pyrolysis Omni Processors

“…The development of thermal treatment systems has been accelerated through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Reinvent the Toilet initiative. , Community-scale, non-sewered sanitation systems developed through this program have been coined Omni Processors (OPs). , From a technological standpoint, these community-scale fecal sludge management systems are marketed as optimized sludge treatment technologies leveraging thermal treatment to inactivate pathogens and recover energy from bodily waste . These systems are proposed to be equipped with remote monitoring and have limited requirements for on-site operators. − Additionally, design teams note that OPs can handle a variety of inputs (e.g., menstrual hygiene materials, municipal solid waste, and organic wastes), which can cause blockages in sewage collection systems and interfere with the performance of other fecal sludge management processes. , Undoubtedly, addressing sanitation goals through technology deployment should consider the critical challenges of stakeholder engagement and social acceptability; ,− nonetheless, costs, energy, and life cycle environmental impacts are three indicators that are potentially of urgent relevance to decision-makers.…”