Artificial Intelligence for U.S. Army Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance

As the Army faces increasing reductions in budget and personnel for supporting functions such as operation and maintenance (O&M) of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), it is clear that reliance on automation will continue to grow. While computer systems will not replace operators, they will provide valuable assistance in optimizing the operator's time and effort. Findings suggest that Al/expert systems technology is not yet at an economically practical level for use in O&M of the Army WWTPs. However, as the technology becomes refined and produced at lower cost, it should be reconsidered; this study has shown through a proof-of-concept exercise that Al/expert systems have potential value to the O&M process.