Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Data analytics in control and operation of municipal wastewater treatment plants: qualitative analysis of needs and
S Eerikäinen1, H Haimi2, A Mikola1
1Aalto University, Finland
Abstract:
This study aims to identify barriers and needs for the application of data analytics in municipal wastewater treatment. The study was conducted through a series of interviews with stakeholders involved in instrumentation, control, and automation of wastewater treatment plants. Opportunities and limitations observed by different stakeholders were assessed with a thematic analysis. Thematic analysis enabled a broader consideration of social and organizational aspects related to process control, operation, and maintenance. Identified key barriers for applying data analytics included laborious instrumentation maintenance, unstable control loops, and deficient customization of digital tools for users at wastewater treatment plants. Development needs include easier data processing tools, quality assurance of instrumentation, and controller tuning. Results indicate that the perceived potential of data analytics is highly dependent on the performance of underlying physical and digital systems, as well as the control strategies and operating environment of the plant. Despite the barriers, users and developers see many potential applications for data analytics and expect them to have a central role in the control and operation of wastewater treatment plants in the future.
Related Concept Videos
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Manipulation and Analysis
Quantitative Analysis
In quantitative analysis, two key measurements are made: the sample quantity and a property proportional to the amount of the analyte (the substance being analyzed). This forms the basis of the...
Dimensional Analysis
In fluid mechanics, dimensional...
Qualitative Analysis
There are two main approaches to qualitative analysis:...
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

