Control NEXT is a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences on Real-time Control (RTC) in water systems. The water systems where the controllers from Control NEXT can be applied, range from surface water systems to sewer systems to hydro power systems. Control NEXT offers a platform for exchanging knowledge on the controllers and their application, but also invites users to contribute to developing new controllers.

New? If you are new to Control NEXT, please visit What is it for general information about Control NEXT and how it could benefit you.

The cycle in which real-time controllers are used

Control NEXT community members develop a great number of controllers. These can be regarded as building blocks, since they can be easily connected to each other. Visit Control NEXT to see how you can get involved.

Dutch version

Introduction

Because of climate change, soil subsidence and sea level rise, and because of population growth and increasing prosperity, the pressure on our water system is increasing. We want our water to be clean, to have sufficient water available and we certaintly want no floodings. We also want to minimize sewer overflows and limit the required capacity for our wastewater treatment plants. Finally, we want to reduce our energy costs and if possible, even generate energy from our (waste) water flows.

We often choose to raise dikes, build new pumps and dig new canals. These actions are often very expensive. Another method is to optimize the existing (waste) water system by using real-time control. This allows reduction of pollution of surface water, reduction of required capacity for wastewater treatment plants, prevention of floodings and better respons to failures in the controlled system.

In many cases RTC can reduce the need to heighten dikes

Real-time control is not a new technology, but in the (waste) water management is still limited aplied. To encourage the development and implementation of real-time control and to share experiences a platform was developed: Control NEXT. By sharing knowledge and experience we try to optimize the knowledge and experience on real-time control. So Control NEXT aims to share knowledge and experience of RTC controls and make it available via open standards to users.

Why Control NEXT?

Real-time control is a technique for processing real-time information quickly to control structures such as intakes, pumping stations, dams and pumps. By applying this technique, the (waste) water system can be optimized, thus reducing costs while controlling the water system more efficiently.

The benefits of real-time control are:

• Cost savings through less investment in infrastructure and lower energy consumption
• A greater environmental benefit, for example by reducing sewer overflows organized and sparing fragile waters.
• Hanlding disruptions in the water system

What is Control NEXT?

NEXT Control is an open platform where knowledge on the field of real-time control, from simple to very complex, can be shared and applied. These include the controllers as an algoritm themselves, as well as end products and its application in operational systems. All components with the Control NEXT stamp are open-source (LGPL license) and are available through the WIKI. This ensures that all developments reinforce each other.

What can Control NEXT?

Control NEXT is a modular control system specifically developed for the water sector to make it easier to apply real-time control. Control NEXT is no substitute for telemetry systems, but is connected to the existing telemetry systems. Control NEXT can also be connected to systems like weather (forecast) systems. This way the controllers form smart links between diferent systems.

The controllers from Control NEXT are free for use. For coding the controllers standard scripting languages are used. This provides a flexible way to add new controllers. Within the Control NEXT platform it is possible to have more than 1000 controllers run independently to control the water system. It makes no difference whether the system controls of open water systems, sewer systems or water treatment systems.

The modules of Control NEXT can be considered as building blocks

Simple and complex controls

Special to Control NEXT is that besides simple (if-then-else, or PID) controllers, advanced state-of-the-art controllers are available. These controllers are suitable for large and complex applications such as controlling an entire treatment group, complex atrial polder canals and river systems or networks with hundreds of input and output variables that drive numerous water structures.

Control NEXT community

Control NEXT was established by a consortium in which science, knowledge institutions and consultants meet: TU Delft, Nelen & Schuurmans and Deltares. Control NEXT has an open structure in which open third-party software can easily be included, for example the NMPC control of DotxControl.

Control NEXT is fully compatible with Delft-FEWS and Lizard and is available without licensing fees.

Community

Control NEXT forms an active community that shares knowledge and experience on real-time control in watersystems. These water systems range from surface water systems, sewer systems and water treatment systems to hydropower systems. Users can be scientist, hydrologists, water managers, system controllers, consultants etc. There are three different groups of relations: board, partner and user.

Community board

The Control NEXT community is formed by the board (the consortium that initiated Control NEXT) and the users. The board administers the WIKI and the development forum. It can also organise congresses and workshops.

Partners

Partners are those people or organisations that have made a significant contribution to the Control NEXT project. This can be in information added to the WIKI, newly added controllers or improvement of existing controllers. Applications for partnership can be send to the board.

Users

Users are those people and organisations that make use of contribute to Control NEXT. This can be in just acquiring knowledge and downloading code, or contributing to development of controllers.

How to get involved

Control NEXT is a community for sharing knowledge and experiences on real-time control. There are different ways in which people and organisations can make use of, and contribute to Control NEXT:

• Get a total overview of available controllers
• Get information about specific controllers
• Add new controllers to the overview
• Discuss about controllers and their application
• Develop new controllers
• Improve existing controllers
• Simply download the controllers you want to use!

Overview of available controllers

If you are responsible for controlling a water system (surface water, sewer, wasterwater treatment, etc.) there are probably many triggers in the way you control your system. A simple example is the "if...then...else" algoritm. In many situaties it is possible to further optimize your water system. The overview of available controllers give you an idea of what controllers can be of use for you. The overview of controllers can be found on the Documentation page.

Specific information on controllers

For all the controllers that are available in Control NEXT, detailed information is available. There is a general information, requirements for application and examples of application. For many controllers there is also the code available.
Information on the controllers can be accessed through the Documentation page.

Add new controllers

Researchers are continually researching and developing new controllers. In the field new controllers are required. If you have developed a new controller, just add it to the list! Other members can help you improve the controller, and you can help other members by providing the controller.

Discuss controllers

Discussion about controllers can only improve their performance and success. In the Control NEXT community we therefore strongly stimulate discussion about controllers and their application.

Develop new controllers

Control NEXT is not only for talking about controllers, the community is also very active in developing controllers. There are many controllers ready, and the number increasing all the time. Controllers are developed in R or in JAVA. The controllers have to apply to the standards of Control NEXT to make sure they are interchangeble can be easily plugged in onto one of the many systems that are compatible with Control NEXT. Development takes place in R-Forge

Improve existing controllers

Just like in most open-source projects, it is possible to contribute to the development of the code. In this case, for each controller there is a block of code. Development takes place in R-Forge

Download code

The algoritms that describe the function of each controller is wrapped up in a block of code. The whole package, containing all available controllers, can be downloaded from this site.

On this page you can find a list of projects where Control NEXT successfully contributed to. Click on the project name for more information on the project.

Control NEXT is made possible by:

Deltares is a Dutch independent research institute for water, soil and subsurface issues. We work on innovative solutions that make life in deltas, coastal areas and river basins safe, clean and sustainable. We conduct research and provide specialist advisory services for government authorities and the corporate sector in the Netherlands and globally. The essence of our work is the development, application and sharing of knowledge. We develop knowledge in partnerships with universities, other knowledge institutions and the business sector, not only in government research programmes but also in contract research. Deltares has more than 800 employees, and we are based in Delft and Utrecht.

Nelen & Schuurmans is an innovative consulting company which provides creative solutions for solving strategic and water management problems for both public and private sector clients. Our company employs academically schooled advisors in various disciplines such as hydrology and hydraulics, water management, water quality, ecology, physical geography, mathematics and information technology. Our advice is based on a thorough knowledge of all aspects of the water system, carefully taking into account the interests of the parties involved, as well as various organizational and legal aspects.

TU Delft cooperates with many other educational and research institutions, both in the Netherlands and abroad. The high quality of our research and teaching is renowned. TU Delft has numerous contacts with governments, trade associations, consultancies, industry and small and medium-sized companies.