Knowledge-based system for telecontrol of anaerobic wastewater treatment plants

This paper describes the design and implementation of an intelligent real-time supervision system for the monitoring and control of wastewater treatment plants. The system presents a hybrid structure which integrates knowledge engineering techniques and methodologies (an expert system based on production rules embodying non-mathematical or semiquantitative knowledge of unit operation) and algorithmic process-related methods (data acquisition, signal preprocessing, calculation of plant operation parameters etc.). The fundamental design aspects consist of temporal information treatment, artifact detection and client–server structure which allows the telesupervision of various plants by a central system.