CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority pursuant to 35 5 U.S.C. §119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-240572, filed
on December 15, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0001]
The present invention relates to a water balance
visualization system and a water balance visualization method,
and specifically to a technique of visually presenting the
15 balance of water supply by a water supply facility, factors
influential on the balance, and the like.
[0002]
The environments for operating water supply facilities in
local governments or the like are becoming harsh year by year
20 due to such reasons as financial deterioration of the local
governments. Under such circumstances, there are various
techniques for efficiently maintaining and managing a water
supply facility by properly making various investments to the
water supply facility, such as updating piping in the water
25 supply facility.
[0003]
As a conventional technique concerning such management of
a water supply facility, there has been proposed, for example,
a water supply information resource utilization business plan
30 management system and management method (see Japanese Patent
3
Application Publication No. 2014-006612) that presents
predicted investment results to a user by generating an
investment draft plan using a user request and a predictive
resident trend obtained based on resident trend prediction and
performing investment plan simulation for each area based 5 ed on
the generated investment plan.
[0004]
In addition, there has also been proposed, for example,
a water supply facility maintenance and management assist
10 apparatus connected to a monitor control device and at least
one water supply facility via a network (see Japanese Patent
Application Publication No. 2017-091032). This apparatus
comprises: an index calculation unit that obtains an activity
level of a worker working in the water supply facility based
15 at least on a travel distance from a video acquisition unit that
monitors the travel distance of the worker and a voice signal
from a voice acquisition unit that acquires a voice signal
including a conversation of the worker; an activity record
database that stores past operation conditions, work contents,
20 and operation results of various pieces of equipment in the water
supply facility in association with one another; and a simulation
unit that determines whether the various pieces of equipment
are in a non-steady state based on the current operation
conditions of the various pieces of equipment acquired from the
25 monitor control device, information stored in the activity
record database, and the activity level of the worker, and
predicts the future status of the water supply facility in a
predetermined period of time based on the corresponding past
operation conditions. The simulation results provide at least
30 an operation condition and/or a work content that satisfies
4
predetermined water quality.
[0006]
However, there has yet to be proposed a technique of
visually presenting analysis results focusing mainly on the
financial perspective, such as how much of the water s5 upplied
by a water supply facility is consumed in a manner beneficial
to the operation of the water supply facility. Further, there
has yet to be proposed a technique of presenting, along with
the analysis results, various factors and solutions that may
10 be influential on such water supply and usage from the financial
perspectives.
SUMMARY
[0007]
15 Thus, the present invention aims to provide a technique
of visually presenting the balance of water supply by a water
supply facility, factors influential on the balance, and the
like.
[0008]
20 To solve the above problems, the present invention
provides a water balance visualization system comprising: a
storage device that stores information on details of consumption
of water supplied by a water supply facility and information
on solutions for improving predetermined events related to
25 supply of the water when introduced to the water supply facility,
the information on details of consumption defining elements
including a supply volume of water by the water supply facility,
a consumption mode, and a sub-mode of the consumption mode; and
an arithmetic device that performs processing to generate,
30 based on the information on details of consumption, graphic
5
objects for the supply volume, a consumption volume of the water
in the consumption mode, and a consumption volume in the sub-mode
of the consumption mode, the graphic objects having sizes in
accordance with the corresponding supply volume and consumption
volumes, processing to output a screen in which the 5 graphic
objects are arranged according to layered structure of the
elements defined in the information on details of consumption,
processing to read a calculation formula for calculating
effectiveness of introducing a certain solution specified by
10 a predetermined terminal from the information on solutions and
calculate the effectiveness of introducing the certain solution
by assigning a variable in the calculation formula with a value
of the consumption volume of a certain element corresponding
to the variable, and processing to update the size of the graphic
15 object for the certain element according to an increase or
decrease in the water consumption volume of the certain element
indicated by the calculated introduction effectiveness.
[0009]
The present invention also provides a water balance
20 visualization method causing an information processing system
to perform processing, the information processing system
including a storage device that stores information on details
of consumption of water supplied by a water supply facility and
information on solutions for improving predetermined events
25 related to supply of the water when introduced to the water supply
facility, the information on details of consumption defining
elements including a supply volume of water by the water supply
facility, a consumption mode, and a sub-mode of the consumption
mode, the processing including processing to generate, based
30 on the information on details of consumption, graphic objects
6
for the supply volume, a consumption volume of the water in the
consumption mode, and a consumption volume in the sub-mode of
the consumption mode, the graphic objects having sizes in
accordance with the corresponding supply volume and consumption
volumes, processing to output a screen in which the 5 graphic
objects are arranged according to layered structure of the
elements defined in the information on details of consumption,
processing to read a calculation formula for calculating
effectiveness of introducing a certain solution specified by
10 a predetermined terminal from the information on solutions and
calculate the effectiveness of introducing the certain solution
by assigning a variable in the calculation formula with a value
of the consumption volume of a certain element corresponding
to the variable in the calculation formula, and processing to
15 update the size of the graphic object for the certain element
according to an increase or decrease in the water consumption
volume of the certain element indicated by the calculated
introduction effectiveness.
[0010]
20 The present invention can visually present the balance of
water supply by a water supply facility, factors influential
on the balance, and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
25 [0011]
Fig. 1A is a diagram illustrating a network configuration
including a water balance visualization system of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 1B is a diagram illustrating an example hardware
30 configuration of the water balance visualization system of the
7
present embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example data
configuration of a constituent element table of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example 5 data
configuration of a constituent element table (details) of the
present embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example data
configuration of a constituent element table (details) of the
10 present embodiment.
Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 1 of
the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example data
15 configuration of a solution table of the present embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example data
configuration of a calculation formula table of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 2 of
20 the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example data
configuration of a graph table of the present embodiment.
Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 3 of
25 the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example data
configuration of a water balance information table of the present
embodiment.
30 Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example data
8
configuration of a water balance information table of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 13 is an example data configuration of a water balance
information table of the present embodiment.
Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 4 5 of
the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example data
configuration of a DMA characteristics table of the present
10 embodiment.
Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 5 of
the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example data
15 configuration of an influenced element table of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 6 of
the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
20 Fig. 19 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 7 of
the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example screen
outputted in the present embodiment.
25 Fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 8 of
the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example screen
outputted in the present embodiment.
30 Fig. 23 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 9 of
9
the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 24 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 10 of
the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment5 .
Fig. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example data
configuration of a change prediction table of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 26 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 11 of
10 the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
Fig. 27A is a diagram illustrating an example coefficient
graph of the present embodiment.
Fig. 27B is a diagram illustrating an example coefficient
15 graph of the present embodiment.
Fig. 27C is a diagram illustrating an example coefficient
graph of the present embodiment.
Fig. 27D is a diagram illustrating an example coefficient
graph of the present embodiment.
20 Fig. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example data
configuration of a loss table of the present embodiment.
Fig. 29 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 12 of
the water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment.
25 Fig. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example screen
outputted in the present embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0012]
30 ---Network Configuration---
10
An embodiment of the present invention is described in
detail below using the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram
illustrating a network configuration including a water balance
visualization system 100 of the present embodiment. The water
balance visualization system 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 is 5 a
computer system that visually presents the balance of water
supply by a water supply facility, factors influential on the
balance, and the like.
[0013]
10 The water balance visualization system 100 of the present
embodiment is communicatively coupled to a client 200 via an
appropriate network 10 such as the Internet or a LAN. The client
200 is a terminal operated by the staff of the water supply
facility or a consultant that makes improvement proposals for
15 the water supply facility. The staff or consultant for the water
supply facility are users that want to obtain information such
as the water balance in the water supply facility, factors
influential on the balance, and solutions for improvement.
[0014]
20 The water balance visualization system 100 is assumed to
be, for example, a server apparatus. The water balance
visualization system 100 has the following functional units:
a user interface unit 110, a screen generation unit 111, a KPI
registration and calculation unit 112, a DMA water balance data
25 collection and management unit 113, a DMA environment data
collection and management unit 114, a solution introduction area
priority level determination unit 115, an environment
information influence range calculation unit 116, and a solution
registration unit 117.
30 [0015]
11
Of these functional units, the screen generation unit 111
holds a constituent element table 127 and a graph table 130.
[0016]
The constituent element table 127 defines the details of
consumption (including the concept of loss) of water 5 r supplied
by the water supply facility for each of consumption modes
according to the layered structure of the consumption modes.
[0017]
Fig. 2 illustrates an example of the constituent element
10 table 127 of the present embodiment. As depicted in the
constituent element table 127, a route is the amount of water
supplied to supply areas by the water supply facility, i.e.,
the supply amount (the display name "Water Supply" under the
element ID of "1", and modes in which water of the supply amount
15 is consumed or lost through inactivity, i.e., water consumption
modes, are defined as lower layers of the above route.
[0018]
Examples of the consumption modes include: the display
name "Revenue Water" under the element ID of "2"; the display
20 name "Non Revenue Water" under the element ID of "3"; the display
name "Authorized Consumption" under the element ID of "11"; the
display name "Water Loss" under the element ID of "12"; the
display name "Billed Authorized Consumption" under the element
ID of "111"; the display name "Unbilled Authorized Consumption"
25 under the element ID of "112"; the display name "Apparent Loss"
under the element ID of "121"; and the display name "Real Losses"
under the element ID of "122".
[0019]
Further, Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate constituent element
30 tables (details) 1271, 1272, respectively, each handling
12
consumption modes defined in the constituent element table 127
as detailed "elements" of consumption and defining the layered
structures of the elements.
[0020]
As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, from the perspective 5 pective of
whether it is consumption by a consumer or loss due to water
leakage or the like, "Water Supply" under the element ID of "1"
is constituted by "Authorized Consumption" under the element
ID of "11" and "Water Loss" under the element ID of "12". Further,
10 from the perspective of whether the consumption mode is one that
leads to profit, "Water Supply" of the element ID "1" can also
be constituted by "Revenue Water" under the element ID of "2"
and "Non Revenue Water" under the element ID of "3".
[0021]
15 Further, "Authorized Consumption" under the element ID of
"11" constituting "Water Supply" under the element ID of "1"
as described above is constituted by "Billed Authorized
Consumption" under the element ID of "111" and "Unbilled
Authorized Consumption" under the element ID of "112".
20 [0022]
Moreover, "Revenue Water" under the element ID of "2" is
constituted by "Billed Authorized Consumption" under the element
ID of "111" described above. In addition, "Non Revenue Water"
under the element ID of "3" is constituted by "Unbilled
25 Authorized Consumption" under the element ID of "112", "Apparent
Losses" under the element ID of "121", and "Real Losses" under
the element ID of "122".
[0023]
The graph table 130 (Fig. 9) defines how information on
30 each evaluation index (e.g., KPI) related to the water supply
13
facility is to be displayed on a screen outputted to the client
200.
[0024]
The DMA water balance data collection and management unit
113 holds a DMA water balance DB 125 containing 5 water balance
information tables (Figs. 11 to 13) storing information on water
balance for each supply area.
[0025]
The DMA environment data collection and management unit
10 114 holds a DMA property DB 126 containing a DMA characteristics
table 1261 (Fig. 15) storing information on supply environments
for each supply area.
[0026]
Further, the solution introduction area priority level
15 determination unit 115 holds a change prediction table 132 (Fig.
25) and a loss table 133 (Fig. 28). The change prediction table
132 stores information on temporal changes in the supply
environments of each supply area. The loss table 133 stores,
based on information in the aforementioned change prediction
20 table 132 and the like, information on temporal changes in the
loss of water supplied by the water supply facility, which is
a predetermined evaluation index.
[0027]
The environment information influence range calculation
25 unit 116 holds an influenced element table 131 (Fig. 17) storing
information on water supply environments that can be influential
on evaluation indices and information on what can be influenced
by them.
[0028]
30 The solution registration unit 117 holds a solution table
14
128 (Fig. 6) and a calculation formula table 129 (Fig. 7). The
solution registration unit 117 stores information on solutions
for improving a certain business related to water supply by being
introduced to the water supply facility. The calculation
formula table 129 stores formulae for 5 calculating the
effectiveness of introducing the respective solutions.
[0029]
Note that the user interface unit 110 is a functional unit
through which data is transmitted to and received from the client
10 200.
[0030]
The screen generation unit 111 is a functional unit that
generates various screens to be outputted to the client 200
through the user interface unit 110. The screens are generated
15 using at least the constituent element table 127 and the graph
table 130.
[0031]
The KPI registration and calculation unit 112 receives
information on an evaluation index from a predetermined
20 registration terminal or the client 200 (hereinafter a
registration terminal in the present embodiment) instructing
registration of the information and registers the information
in relevant cells in the graph table 130 and the influenced
element table 131. Also, the KPI registration and calculation
25 unit 112 calculates a KPI (evaluation index) based on the
information on a calculation formula registered in the graph
table 130 and water balance information corresponding to a
variable in the calculation formula (acquired from the DMA water
balance DB 125).
30 [0032]
15
The DMA water balance data collection and management unit
113 acquires, from a predetermined system operated by the
management department or the like of the water supply facility,
data related to water balance, such as the amount of water
supplied to each supply area by the water supply facility 5 (the
supply amount), the amount of water consumed by the supply area,
and the amount of water lost due to water leakage or the like,
and stores the data in the DMA water balance DB 125.
[0033]
10 The DMA environment data collection and management unit
114 acquires, from a predetermined system operated by the
management department or the like of the water supply facility,
data on supply environments of each supply area of which the
water supply facility is keeping track, and stores the data in
15 the DMA property DB 126.
[0034]
The solution introduction area priority level
determination unit 115 determines the priority order of the
supply areas for solution introduction based on the change
20 prediction table 132, information on the KPI calculation
formulae in the graph table 130, coefficient graphs (Figs. 27A
to 27D), and the like.
[0035]
The environment information influence range calculation
25 unit 116 identifies, for each water supply area of the water
supply facility, a supply environment that can be influential
on the KPI based on the DMA property DB 126 and the influenced
element table 131.
[0036]
30 The solution registration unit 117 receives information
16
on a solution from the client 200 instructing registration of
the information, and stores the information in the solution table
128 and the calculation formula table 129.
[0037]
---5 Hardware Configuration---
Fig. 1B illustrates an example hardware configuration of
the water balance visualization system 100 of the present
embodiment. The water balance visualization system 100 has the
following hardware configuration.
10 [0038]
The water balance visualization system 100 of the present
embodiment includes at least a storage device 101, a memory 103,
an arithmetic device 104, and a communication device 105.
[0039]
15 The storage device 101 is formed of an appropriate
non-volatile storage element such as a solid-state drive (SSD)
or a hard disk drive. The memory 103 is formed of a volatile
storage element such as a RAM.
[0040]
20 The arithmetic device 104 is a CPU or the like that executes
programs 102 held by the storage device 101 to take overall
control of the apparatus by, for example, loading the program
102 onto the memory 103, and also performs various kinds of
determination, computation, and control processing.
25 [0041]
The communication device 105 is a network interface card
or the like that is connected to the network 10 and performs
processing to communicate with the client 200.
[0042]
30 Note that the storage device 101 stores not only the
17
programs 102 for implementing the functional units 110 to 117
necessary as the water balance visualization system 100 of the
present embodiment, but also at least the DMA water balance DB
125, the DMA property DB 126, the constituent element table 127,
the solution table 128, the calculation formula table 129, th5 e
graph table 130, the influenced element table 131, the change
prediction table 132, and the loss table 133.
[0043]
---Example Flowchart 1---
10 An actual procedure of the water balance visualization
method according to the present embodiment is described below
based on the drawings. Operations performed in the water
balance visualization method described below are implemented
by programs that the water balance visualization system 100 loads
15 onto the memory or the like and executes. The programs are formed
by codes for performing various operations to be described below.
[0044]
Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 1 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
20 In this flowchart, the solution registration unit 117 of the
water balance visualization system 100 receives information on
a solution from a predetermined registration terminal
instructing registration of the information, and registers the
information in the solution table 128 and the calculation formula
25 table 129 (s10). Then the processing ends.
[0045]
The information on a solution the registration of which
is instructed by the registration terminal includes the solution
name of the solution to be registered and a formula for
30 calculating the effectiveness of introduction of the solution.
18
The solution registration unit 117 receives the solution name,
generates a record in the solution table 128, and assigns a
solution ID to the record using predetermined rules to uniquely
identify the record among the other records, or solutions.
[5 0046]
Further, to receive the calculation formula, the solution
registration unit 117 displays, for example, the elements ID
of the elements in the constituent element table 127 in a
selectable manner on the registration terminal, and receives
10 an element selected. Similarly, the solution registration unit
117 displays operators of four arithmetic operations to perform
on the selected element in a selectable manner on the
predetermined registration terminal, and receives an operator
selected.
15 [0047]
In the example of the calculation formula table 129 in FIG.
7, a calculation formula registered for the solution ID "S01"
for example has an operator "×" between "Real Losses" under the
element ID of "122" and a constant "0.8". This calculation
20 formula indicates that introduction of a solution under the
solution ID of "S01" is effective in reducing "Real Losses" under
the element ID of "122" to 80% of that before the introduction.
[0048]
Similarly, a calculation formula registered for the
25 solution ID "S02" has an operator "×" between "Apparent Losses"
under the element ID of "121" and a constant "0.9". This
calculation formula indicates that introduction of the solution
under the solution ID of "S02" is effective in reducing "Apparent
Losses" under the element ID of "121" to 90% of that before the
30 introduction.
19
[0049]
---Example Flowchart 2---
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 2 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
Next, the KPI registration and calculation unit 112 of 5 the water
balance visualization system 100 receives information on a KPI
from the registration terminal instructing registration of the
information, and registers the information on the KIP in
corresponding cells in the graph table 130 (s20). Then the
10 processing ends.
[0050]
The information on a KPI that the registration terminal
instructs the KPI registration and calculation unit 112 to
register includes, as illustrated in the graph table 130 in Fig.
15 9, the title of a graph, the unit of the KPI value, the type
of the graph, and a formula for calculating the KPI. In this
context, a graph is a graphic object of a given size indicating
a KPI value.
[0051]
20 The graph title corresponds to the value in the
"Abbreviated Display Name" in the constituent element table 127.
[0052]
The calculation formula includes, like in the calculation
formula table 129 already described, an element ID specified
25 by the registration terminal from the elements included in the
constituent element table 127 and an operator specified by the
registration terminal from four arithmetic operators to perform
on the element identified by the element ID.
[0053]
30 In the example of the graph table 130 illustrated in Fig.
20
9, the information registered for the KPI ID "KPI01" for example
are a graph title "NRW", a unit "%", a graph type "bar graph",
and a calculation formula "element ID "3" ÷ element ID "1" ×
100". This calculation formula indicates that a KPI under the
KPI ID of "KPI01" is calculated by division of "Non Revenue 5 enue Water"
under the element ID of "3" by "Water Supply" under the element
ID of "1" and then multiplication of the quotient by "100".
[0054]
---Example Flowchart 3---
10 Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 3 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
In this flowchart, the DMA water balance data collection and
management unit 113 of the water balance visualization system
100 acquires, from for example a predetermined system operated
15 by the management department or the like of the water supply
facility, water balance data, such as the amount of water
supplied to each supply area by the water supply facility (the
supply amount), the amount of water consumed in the supply area,
and the amount of water lost due to water leakage or the like
20 (s100).
[0055]
The "supply amount" acquired here corresponds to "Water
Supply" under the element ID of "1" among the elements in the
constituent element table 127. The "amount of water consumed
25 in the supply area" corresponds to "Authorized Consumption"
under the element ID of "11" among the elements in the constituent
element table 127. Further, the "amount of water lost due to
water leakage or the like" corresponds to "Water Losses" under
the element ID of "12".
30 [0056]
21
Next, the DMA water balance data collection and management
unit 113 stores the water amount data on the elements acquired
in s100 in a water balance information table 1251 of the DMA
water balance DB 125 (s101). The water balance information
table 1251 illustrated in Fig. 11 is for the supply area 5 rea "DMA1"
before introduction of any solution. In this example,
"70,000,000" is registered as "the supply amount" from the water
supply facility, i.e., "volume" of "Water Supply" under the
element ID of "1". In addition, "40,000,000" is registered as
10 "the amount of water consumed in the supply area" out of "the
supply amount" from the water supply facility, i.e., "volume"
of "Authorized Consumption" under the element ID of "11". In
addition, "30,000,000" is registered as the "amount of water
lost due to water leakage or the like", i.e., "volume" of "Water
15 Losses" under the element ID of "12".
[0057]
Next, the DMA water balance data collection and management
unit 113 checks with the constituent element table (details)
1271 (Fig. 3) that "Water Supply" under the element ID of "1"
20 is constituted by "Authorized Consumption" under the element
ID of "11" and "Water Losses" under the element ID of "12",
calculates the values of "percentage" of those elements in the
water balance information table 1251 based on this, and registers
the values in the water balance information table 1251 (s102).
25 [0058]
For example, when the percentage of "volume" of "Water
Supply" under the element ID of "1" is "100", the percentage
of "volume" of "Authorized Consumption" under the element ID
of "11" can be calculated to be "57.1" by division of "40,000,000"
30 in "volume" of "Authorized Consumption" under the element ID
22
of "11" by "70,000,000" in "volume" of "Water Supply" under the
element ID of "1" and then multiplication of the quotient by
100.
[0059]
Similarly, the percentage of "volume" of "Water Losses5 "
under the element ID of "12" can be calculated to be "42.9" by
multiplication of "30,000,000" in "volume" of "Water Losses"
under the element ID of "12" by "70,000,000" in "volume" of "Water
Supply" under the element ID of "1" and then multiplication of
10 the quotient by 100.
[0060]
The DMA water balance data collection and management unit
113 also calculates the introduction effectiveness of each
solution defined in the solution table 128 based on the
15 calculation formula for the solution specified in the
calculation formula table 129, and registers the introduction
effectiveness as "volume" of the elements in a water balance
information table 1252, 1253 (s103). Then the processing ends.
It goes without saying that the values of "percentage" are also
20 calculated and registered in a manner similar to s102.
[0061]
When calculating the introduction effectiveness of each
solution, for example, the DMA water balance data collection
and management unit 113 searches the constituent element tables
25 (details) 1271, 1272 for the constituent elements of "Authorized
Consumption" under the element ID of "11" and identifies the
element IDs "111" and "112" as a result. Then, the DMA water
balance data collection and management unit 113 searches the
calculation formula table 129 for a calculation formula
30 containing any one of the element IDs "11", "111", and "112".
23
As a result, the DMA water balance data collection and management
unit 113 cannot identify such a calculation formula.
[0062]
Further, for example, the DMA water balance data
collection and management unit 113 searches 5 the constituent
element tables (details) 1271, 1272 for the constituent elements
of "Water Losses" under the element ID of "12" and identifies
the element IDs "121" and "122" as a result. Then, the DMA water
balance data collection and management unit 113 searches the
10 calculation formula table 129 for a calculation formula
containing any one of the element IDs "12", "121", and "122".
As a result, the DMA water balance data collection and management
unit 113 can identify the calculation formulae for the solution
IDs "S01", "S02", and "S01&S02".
15 [0063]
Then, the DMA water balance data collection and management
unit 113 calculates the identified calculation formula for each
solution by assigning the variable in the calculation formula
with the value of "volume" of the corresponding element ID in
20 the water balance information table 1251, and thereby obtains
the value of "volume" of the element to be calculated using the
calculation formula (each of the elements ID "121" and "122"
in the example in Fig. 7).
[0064]
25 The DMA water balance data collection and management unit
113 updates the "volume" of "Water Losses" under the element
ID of "12" using the "volume" of each of the element IDs "121"
and "122" (changed from those before solution introduction),
and sets the updated value in the water balance information table
30 1252 or 1253 for after the introduction of the solution.
24
[0065]
---Example Flowchart 4---
Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 4 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
In this flowchart, the DMA environment data 5 collection and
management unit 114 acquires, from for example a predetermined
system operated by the management department or the like of the
water supply facility, data on supply environments of which the
water supply facility is keeping track (s30), and stores the
10 data in the DMA property DB 126 (s31). Then the processing ends.
[0066]
The data on supply environments registered here includes,
as depicted as the items of the DMA characteristics table 1261
in Fig. 15, water-supplied facilities, water supply schedule,
15 and water supply equipment.
[0067]
The data on water-supplied facilities includes data such
as the population of the supply area and the number of
free-of-charge water-supplied facilities (i.e., facilities to
20 consume "Non Revenue Water").
[0068]
The data on water supply schedule includes data on the
period of time of water supply to the supply area per month.
[0069]
25 The data on water supply equipment includes data on the
age of equipment installed in the supply area (the number of
years the equipment has been used), the equipment being such
as pipes constituting water supply piping, a tank that stores
water to be led to the pipes, and a meter that measures the amount
30 of water supply.
25
[0070]
---Example Flowchart 5---
Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 5 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
In this flowchart, for example, the 5 environment information
influence range calculation unit 116 receives, from the
registration terminal, a certain one of the items in the DMA
characteristics table 1261 of the DMA property DB 126 and a
certain element in the constituent element table 127 that is
10 influenced by the item, and registers the item and the element
in the influenced element table 131 (Fig. 17) (s110).
[0071]
Next, using the value of the element ID in the "influenced
element" column in the influenced element table 131, the
15 environment information influence range calculation unit 116
searches the constituent element tables 1271, 1272 to identify
elements constituting the element of the element ID, searches
the graph table 130 to identify the KPI ID of a KPI the calculation
formula for which contains any one of the elements thus
20 identified and the aforementioned element ID in the "influenced
element" column, and registers the KPI ID of such a KPI in the
influenced element table 131 as the value of a KPI ID in the
"influenced element" column (s111).
[0072]
25 Further, the environment information influence range
calculation unit 116 searches the calculation formula table 129
to identify the solution ID of a solution the calculation formula
for which contains any one of the value of the element ID in
the "influenced element" in the influenced element table 131
30 and the values of the element IDs of the elements constituting
26
the element of the element ID which have been identified in s111,
and registers the solution ID in the influenced element table
131 as the value of a solution ID in the "influenced element"
column (s112). Then the processing ends.
[5 0073]
---Example Flowchart 6---
Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 6 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
In this flowchart, the screen generation unit 111 refers to the
10 solution table 128 and draws a solution area of a screen to be
outputted to the client 200 (hereinafter referred to as a Water
Balance Table visualization screen) (s120).
[0074]
This solution area is an area 1001 in a Water Balance Table
15 visualization screen 1000 exemplified in Fig. 20. The solution
area 1001 is an area to dispose an appropriate interface for
each solution registered in the solution table 128, the interface
being such as an icon selectable by a user operating the client
200. Thus, the drawing processing in s120 is to dispose icons
20 showing the values in the "solution name" column of the solution
table 128.
[0075]
Further, the screen generation unit 111 refers to the
constituent element table 127 and one of the water balance
25 information tables 1251 to 1253 which is related to the solution
selected by the user in the solution area 1001 (e.g., if the
user clicks on "solution 1" in the solution area 1001, it is
the water balance information table 1252 for after introduction
of "solution 1"), and draws a Water Balance Table area 1003 (Fig.
30 20) for a supply area (hereinafter referred to as a DMA) selected
27
on a selection menu 1002 by the user operating the client 200
(s121). Although details of Step s121 will be given later with
reference to the flowchart in Fig. 19, the outline of the Water
Balance Table area 1003 drawn here is as follows.
[5 0076]
The screen generation unit 111 constructs the Water
Balance Table area 1003 by generating rectangular objects whose
heights are in accordance with the magnitudes of the amounts
of water consumed by respective consumption modes shown in the
10 water balance information table 1252 referred to in this step,
and disposing them according to the layered structure of the
elements shown in the constituent element table 127 and the
constituent element tables (details) 1271, 1272.
[0077]
15 In the Water Balance Table area 1003 exemplified in Fig.
20, "Water Supply" under the element ID of "1", which is the
route in the constituent element table 127, is on the far left
of the table, and graphic objects are sequentially disposed
therefrom to the right, to the lower layers of the layered
20 structure, such as "Metered Consumption" under the element ID
of "1111" which is disposed second from the right. Further,
"Revenue Water" under the element ID of "2" and "Non Revenue
Water" under the element ID of "3" are disposed on the far right
of the table.
25 [0078]
In other words, the Water Balance Table area 1003 indicates
that "Water Supply" under the element ID of "0", which is water
supplied from the water supply facility, is consumed in various
ways which are aggregated in the end into "Revenue Water" under
30 the element ID "2" (water consumed in a way that is financially
28
profitable to the water supply facility) and "Non Revenue Water"
under the element ID of "3" (water consumed in a way that is
not financially profitable to the water supply facility).
[0079]
Next, the screen generation unit 111 displays, in a 5 KPI
area 1005, a KPI selected by the user operating the client 200
on a KPI selection menu 1004 of the Water Balance Table
visualization screen 1000 from KPIs whose values have been
calculated by the KPI registration and calculation unit 112
10 (s122).
[0080]
Note that in the processing in s122 above, the KPI
registration and calculation unit 112 calculates the
user-selected KPI by referring to information on a calculation
15 formula for the KPI among KPIs registered in the graph table
130 and assigning the variables in the calculation formula with
corresponding water balance information (acquired from the DMA
water balance DB) (elements in the constituent element table
127).
20 [0081]
For example, since the calculation formula for "Non
Revenue Water" of "KPI01" is "[3]÷[1]×100", the KPI registration
and calculation unit 112 extracts values corresponding to the
element IDs "3" and "1" from the water balance information table
25 1251 for before introduction of any solution and also from the
water balance information table 1252 for after introduction of
"solution 1", and solves the calculation formula by applying
the values to the calculation formula for each of the water
balance information tables.
30 [0082]
29
Then, the screen generation unit 111 draws a bar graph of
the KPIs obtained by the calculation by the KPI registration
and calculation unit 112 in the KPI area 1005. Specifically,
the KPI based on the water balance information table 1251 for
before introduction of any solution is labeled as 5 "Before", and
the KPI based on the water balance information table 1252 for
after introduction of "solution 1" is labeled as "After". The
lengths of the bars for the "Before" KPI and the "After" KPI
are determined by the sizes of the values of the KPIs.
10 [0083]
Next, the screen generation unit 111 determines whether
the Compare DMAs button 1006 in the KPI area 1005 has been
selected by the client 200 (s123).
[0084]
15 When it is determined that the Compare DMAs button 1006
in the KPI area 1005 has not been selected (s123: NO), the screen
generation unit 111 ends the processing.
[0085]
When it is determined that the Compare DMAs button 1006
20 in the KPI area 1005 has been selected (s123: YES), the screen
generation unit 111 draws a KPI comparison screen 1100 (Fig.
22) (s124), and ends the processing. The processing to draw the
KPI comparison screen 1100 will be described later with reference
to the flowchart in Fig. 21.
25 [0086]
---Example Flowchart 7---
Fig. 19 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 7 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
Here, detailed processing in s121 in the flowchart in Fig. 18
30 is described.
30
[0087]
In this flowchart, the screen generation unit 111 refers
to the constituent element table 127 and the constituent element
tables (details) 1271, 1272, draws rectangular objects
sequentially from the left of the Water Balance Table 5 area 1003
of the Water Balance Table visualization screen 1000, according
to the order of layers defined in the constituent element table
127 and the constituent element tables (details) 1271, 1272,
and sets and displays the abbreviated names defined in the
10 constituent element table 127 for the corresponding elements
(s1211).
[0088]
Further, the screen generation unit 111 acquires a DMA ID
and a solution ID selected by the user respectively on the
15 selection menu 1002 and the solution area 1001 of the Water
Balance Table visualization screen 1000 (s1212).
[0089]
Next, the screen generation unit 111 acquires the values
of the percentages of elements from a water balance information
20 table for the DMA ID and solution ID selected, and sets the
lengths of the rectangular objects for the respective elements
according to the values of the percentages (s1213).
[0090]
Next, the screen generation unit 111 acquires the values
25 of "volume", "error", and "percentage" of the elements from the
water balance information table, displays them inside the
corresponding rectangular objects (s1214), and ends the
processing.
[0091]
30 ---Example Flowchart 8---
31
Fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 8 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
Here, details of processing in s124 of the flowchart in Fig.
18 are described.
[5 0092]
In this flowchart, the screen generation unit 111 acquires
a solution ID and a KPI ID selected on the Water Balance Table
visualization screen 1000 (s1241).
[0093]
10 The screen generation unit 111 also acquires, from the
graph table 130, a calculation formula for the KIP ID acquired
in s1241 (s1242).
[0094]
Next, the screen generation unit 111 acquires numeral
15 values necessary for the KPI calculation from the water balance
information table for each DMA for the solution ID of "S00",
gives the numeral values to the KPI registration and calculation
unit 112, and has the KPI registration and calculation unit 112
calculate a KPI (s1243).
20 [0095]
Further, the screen generation unit 111 acquires, from the
graph table 130, the values of "graph title", "unit", and "graph
type" corresponding to the KPI ID acquired in s1241, and draws
a bar graph 1101 for each DMA (s1244). Note that only the bar
25 graph for "DMA1" is assigned the sign "1101" in Fig. 22 for
simplification (the same is true to the sign "1102").
[0096]
Next, the screen generation unit 111 acquires numeral
values necessary for KPI calculation from a water balance
30 information table for the solution ID acquired in s1241, gives
32
the numeral values to the KPI registration and calculation unit
112, has the KPI registration and calculation unit 112 calculate
a KPI, and draws a bar graph 1102 for each DMA (s1245).
[0097]
Further, the screen generation unit 111 causes 5 the
environment information influence range calculation unit 116
to refer to the influenced element table 131 and acquires the
DMA environment items containing the KIP ID acquired in s1241
in the influenced KIP ID column (s1246).
10 [0098]
Next, the screen generation unit 111 refers to the DMA
characteristics table 1261 for each DMA and acquires the values
of the DMA environment items acquired in s1246 (s1247).
[0099]
15 Further, when the user performs an action such as mouseover
with respect to the bar graph 1101 drawn in s1244 using the client
200, the screen generation unit 111 displays the values of the
DMA environment items acquired in s1246 with, for example, a
balloon object 1110 (s1248).
20 [0100]
Next, the screen generation unit 111 causes the
environment information influence range calculation unit 116
to refer to the influenced element table 131 and acquires the
DMA environment items containing the solution ID acquired in
25 s1241 in the influenced solution ID column (s1249).
[0101]
Further, the screen generation unit 111 refers to the DMA
characteristics table 1261 for each DMA and acquires the values
of the DMA environment items acquired in s1249 (s1250).
30 [0102]
33
Next, when the user performs an action such as mouseover
with respect to the bar graph 1102 drawn in s1245 using the client
200, the screen generation unit 111 displays the values of the
DMA environment items acquired in s1249 with, for example, a
balloon object 1120 (s1251), 5 51), and ends the processing.
[0103]
---Example Flowchart 9---
Fig. 23 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 9 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
10 As described with reference to Fig. 22 above, the values of KIP
before and after solution introduction are visually presented
for each DMA. However, it is more useful to the operators of
the water supply facility when there is information indicating
which DMA should be subjected to solution introduction first
15 for the most preferable outcome. To that end, a description is
given of how the water balance visualization system 100 of the
present embodiment performs processing to present the priority
order of DMAs for solution introduction.
[0104]
20 First of all, a procedure of generating the change
prediction table 132 is described. In this procedure, the
solution introduction area priority level determination unit
115 of the water balance visualization system 100 acquires
prediction data on future population changes and water supply
25 time per month from, for example, a system in a local government
located in each DMA, a management system of the water supply
facility, and the like, and registers the data in the change
prediction table 132 (s200).
[0105]
30 Further, the solution introduction area priority level
34
determination unit 115 acquires, from the management system of
the water supply facility for example, information on plans for
replacing equipment, such as pipes and tanks, used for water
supply and the like in the water supply facility (s201).
[5 0106]
Next, the solution introduction area priority level
determination unit 115 determines, based on the information
acquired in s201, whether there is any plan for replacing pipes
and tanks (s202).
10 [0107]
When it is determined that there is no plan for replacing
pipes and tanks or when such information is not available (s202:
NO), the solution introduction area priority level determination
unit 115 calculates the "average pipe age" and the "average tank
15 age" of each of future years predetermined in the change
prediction table 132 (e.g., year 2020, year 2025, and year 2030
if the present year is 2017) by adding years that elapse from
the present year (e.g., year 2017) to the future year to the
value of the "average pipe age" and the value of the "average
20 tank age" of the present year (s203).
[0108]
When it is determined that there is a plan for replacing
pipes and tanks or when such information is available (s202:
YES), the solution introduction area priority level
25 determination unit 115 estimates the percentage of pipes or tanks
to be replaced based for example on the past history (e.g., 30%
of all pipes or tanks are replaced once 20 years), and calculates
the average ages for each DMA (s204).
[0109]
30 Next, the solution introduction area priority level
35
determination unit 115 registers the values of the "average pipe
age" and the "average tank age" acquired in s203 or s204 in the
change prediction table 132 (s205), and ends the processing.
[0110]
---Example Flowchart 105 ---
Fig. 24 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 10 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
This flow example shows the rest of the procedure of generating
the change prediction table 132.
10 [0111]
In this flowchart, the solution introduction area priority
level determination unit 115 acquires water supply population
in each DMA from the DMA characteristics table 1261 (s210).
[0112]
15 Next, the solution introduction area priority level
determination unit 115 acquires the value of "volume" of "Water
Supply" under the element ID of "1" for each DMA from the water
balance information tables (for both before and after solution
introduction) (s211).
20 [0113]
Further, the solution introduction area priority level
determination unit 115 acquires the future population in each
year in each DMA from the change prediction table 132 (s212).
[0114]
25 Next, the solution introduction area priority level
determination unit 115 calculates, for each DMA, the "volume"
of "Water Supply" of each year based on the ratio of the water
supply population of the year to the water supply population
of the reference year acquired in s210, calculates the total
30 "volume" of "Water Supply" up to the year, and registers that
36
volume as "total water supply" in the change prediction table
132 (s213).
[0115]
Further, the solution introduction area priority level
determination unit 115 acquires the value of "5 water supply time
per month" of each DMA from the change prediction table 132
(s214).
[0116]
Next, the solution introduction area priority level
10 determination unit 115 calculates the value of "yearly water
supply time" by multiplying the value of "water supply time per
month" acquired in s214 by 12, registers the value in the change
prediction table 132 (s215), and ends the processing.
[0117]
15 ---Example Flowchart 11---
Fig. 26 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 11 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment.
In this flowchart, a description is given of calculation
processing performed prior to determination of the priority
20 levels of solutions introduced.
[0118]
In this flowchart, the solution introduction area priority
level determination unit 115 calculates Real Losses [m3] using
the change prediction table 132 and the coefficients in
25 coefficient graphs 270A to 270D (Figs. 27A to 27D), and registers
the Real Losses [m3] in the loss table 133 (s220). Note that
the coefficient graphs are preset by someone knowledgeable.
[0119]
The amount of Real Losses corresponds to water leakage from
30 a pipe and leakage from a tank. Water leakage from a pipe can
37
be expressed by a certain function having as variables an
influence coefficient according to current water leakage from
the pipe or the aging level of the pipe and an influence
coefficient according to water supply time. Further, leakage
from 5 a tank can be expressed by a certain function having as
variables an influence coefficient according to current tank
leakage or the aging level of the tank and an influence
coefficient according to water supply time. Both of the
functions may be obtained using an existing technique
10 appropriately.
[0120]
Note that assumption is made that the larger the total
water supply is, the higher the aging level of the pipe or tank,
and the more likely that leakage occurs. The graph 270A in Fig.
15 27A and the graph C in Fig. 27C show the influence coefficients
for Real Losses according to the total water supply (aging level).
Further, another assumption is made that the longer the water
supply time is, the longer the pipe or tank stores water, and
the more likely that leakage occurs. The graph 270B in Fig. 27B
20 and the graph 270D in Fig. 27D show the influence coefficients
for Real Losses according to water storage time.
[0121]
Next, the solution introduction area priority level
determination unit 115 calculates Real Losses [m3] for each year
based on the values of Real Losses [m325 ] obtained in s220, and
registers the total Real Loss [m3] in the loss table 133 (s221).
[0122]
Further, the solution introduction area priority level
determination unit 115 obtains Real Losses [%] based on the total
Real Loss [m330 ] in the loss table 133 and the total water supply
38
[m3] in the change prediction table 132, registers the total Real
Loss [m3] in the loss table 133 (s222), and ends the processing.
[0123]
Note that the calculation of the Real Losses is based on
the following concept. The estimation of the total Real 5 Losses
uses data such as materials of the pipes and tanks and predicted
values of the population in each DMA, the average pipe age in
the DMA, the average tank age in the DMA, and the water supply
time per month (or at least the water supply population in each
10 DMA, the average pipe age in the DMA, and the water supply time
per month). The total water supply up to the current point (i.e.,
the aging level of pipes indicative of how much the pipes have
been used) is obtained from the water supply population and the
average pipe age, and this total water supply influences Real
15 Losses. Similarly, the water supply time per month (i.e., the
period of time that water is in the pipes) also influences Real
Losses. For the calculation of the aging level of the pipes,
in addition to the above factors, the amount of traffic (assuming
that the amount of traffic is proportional to the population)
20 and the materials may be deemed to influence the level of aging
with certain coefficients.
[0124]
For example, with year 2017 being the current year,
predicted values of the future population changes, the average
25 pipe and tank ages (if some of the pipes or tanks are planned
to be replaced, the ages are shortened by the replacement), and
water supply time are collected and calculated. The data prior
to year 2017 is used to calculate the total water supply (the
change prediction table 132), and therefore is not necessary
30 if the past total water supply is already known.
39
[0125]
---Example Flowchart 12---
Fig. 29 is a diagram illustrating Example Flowchart 12 of
the water balance visualization method of the present embodiment,
and Fig. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example screen 5 een showing
KPIs (Real Losses) before and after solution introduction for
each DMA.
[0126]
Here, the future amount of Real Losses is estimated from
10 data such as the future population changes, the amount or
percentage of Real Losses up to the year set by the user is
calculated, and the DMA with the largest amount or percentage
of Real Losses is recommended as a DMA with the highest priority
level of solution introduction. The following processing is
15 based on such a basic concept.
[0127]
In this flowchart, for example, the solution introduction
area priority level determination unit 115 displays an
appropriate GUI on the client 200, and acquires a unit selected
20 by the user using the GUI (s230). This unit is either the "total
Real Losses [m3]" or the "Real Losses [%]", and is used as a
standard unit for determining the DMA priority level.
[0128]
Next, the solution introduction area priority level
25 determination unit 115 determines which of the units has been
selected by the user (s231).
[0129]
When it is determined that the user has selected the "total
Real Losses [m3]" (s231: YES), the solution introduction area
30 priority level determination unit 115 acquires the value of the
40
total Real Losses [m3] from the loss table 133 (s232).
[0130]
When it is determined that the user has not selected the
"total Real Losses [m3]" (s231: NO), the solution introduction
area priority level determination unit 115 acquires the value5 s
of the total Real Losses [m3] and the Real Losses [%] from the
loss table 133 (s233).
[0131]
Further, based on the values acquired in s233, the solution
10 introduction area priority level determination unit 115 detects
a DMA with the highest Real Losses [%] in the year specified
by the user (s234).
[0132]
Next, the solution introduction area priority level
15 determination unit 115 generates recommendation information
presenting the DMA detected in s234 as the DMA with the highest
solution introduction priority level, outputs the
recommendation information to the client 200 (s235), and ends
the processing.
20 [0133]
Fig. 30 illustrates an example where a new screen 3100 is
outputted as recommendation information. This screen 3100
presents recommendation information with the graph for "Real
Losses" (after solution introduction) in "DMA1" being
25 highlighted with a thick line as a DMA with the highest solution
introduction priority level.
[0134]
For example, assume that the user selects the solution
"S01" on a Water Balance Table visualization screen 3000
30 exemplified in Fig. 30. The solution "S01" is a solution for
41
reducing "Real Losses" under the element ID of "122". With year
2017 being the current year, the total "Real Losses" (whichever
of the amount or percentage thereof specified by the user) up
to the future year set by the user (e.g., year 2030) is estimated.
DMAs with higher "total Real Losses" are prioritized 5 d more for
solution introduction.
[0135]
Although specific descriptions have been given of the best
modes for carrying out the present invention and the like, the
10 present invention is not limited to such modes and can be
variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.
[0136]
The present embodiment can visually present the balance
of water supply by the water supply facility, factors influential
15 on the balance, and the like.
[0137]
Descriptions provided herein disclose at least the
following. Specifically, the water balance visualization
system of the present embodiment may be such that the storage
20 device further stores information on calculation formulae for
calculating evaluation indices related to the water supply
facility, and the arithmetic device further performs processing
to calculate a value of a certain one of the evaluation indices
by assigning a variable in the calculation formula for
25 calculating the evaluation index with a value of the consumption
volume of a certain element corresponding to the variable, and
generate a first graphic object for the evaluation index having
a size in accordance with the value of the evaluation index thus
calculated, processing to generate a second graphic object for
30 the evaluation index by reflecting, in the variable
42
corresponding to the certain element in the calculation formula
for calculating the evaluation index, the increase or decrease
in the water consumption volume of the certain element indicated
by the calculated introduction effectiveness, and processing
to output a screen having the first and second 5 graphic objects
for the evaluation index.
[0138]
The water balance visualization system of the present
embodiment can display how an evaluation index of the water
10 supply facility would be changed by introduction of a solution,
on a screen along with the water balance of the water supply
facility. Thus, the water balance visualization system of the
present embodiment can visually present in a more
easy-to-understand way the balance of water supply by the water
15 supply facility, factors influential on the balance, and the
like.
[0139]
Further, the water balance visualization system of the
present embodiment may be such that the storage device further
20 stores information on supply environments of the water in each
of supply areas supplied with water by the water supply facility
and information on the supply environments that possibly
influence the evaluation indices, and the arithmetic device
further performs processing to, in the generating of the first
25 graphic object, calculate a value of the evaluation index for
each of the supply areas by assigning a variable in the
calculation formula for calculating the evaluation index with
a value of the consumption volume of a certain element
corresponding to the variable for each of the supply areas, and
30 generate, for each of the supply areas, the first graphic object
43
having a size in accordance with the value of the evaluation
index thus calculated, in the generating of the second graphic
object, generate the second graphic object for each of the supply
areas by reflecting, in the variable corresponding to the certain
element in the calculation formula for calculating 5 lating the
evaluation index, the increase or decrease in the water
consumption volume of the certain element indicated by the
calculated introduction effectiveness for each of the supply
areas, and based on the information on the supply environments
10 in each of the supply areas and the information on the supply
environments that possibly influence the evaluation indices,
identify for each supply area the supply environment that
possibly influences the evaluation index, and output a screen
having, for each supply area, information on the supply
15 environment thus identified and the first and second graphic
objects.
[0140]
The water balance visualization system of the present
embodiment can display, as a list for each supply area, how an
20 evaluation index of the water supply facility would be changed
by introduction of a solution, on a screen along with the water
balance of the water supply facility. Thus, the water balance
visualization system of the present embodiment can visually
present in a more easy-to-understand way the balance of water
25 supply by the water supply facility, factors influential on the
balance, and the like.
[0141]
Further, the water balance visualization system of the
present embodiment may be such that the storage device further
30 stores information on temporal changes in the supply
44
environments in each supply area, and the arithmetic device
further performs processing to calculate for each supply area
a value of a certain one of the evaluation indices for a
predetermined event at a future time point a predetermined period
of time after a predetermined time point by assigning 5 a certain
variable in the calculation formula for calculating the
evaluation index with a value of the predetermined event at the
future time point, the value of the predetermined event being
indicated by the information on temporal changes in the supply
10 environments for each supply area, determine a priority order
of the supply areas for introduction of the solution according
to sizes of the values of the evaluation indices thus calculated,
and output a screen having results of the determination.
[0142]
15 The water balance visualization system of the present
embodiment can show the priority levels of supply areas for
solution introduction explicitly. Thus, the water balance
visualization system of the present embodiment can visually
present in a more easy-to-understand way the balance of water
20 supply by the water supply facility, factors influential on the
balance, and the like.
[0143]
The water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment may be such that the storage device of the water
25 balance visualization system further stores information on
calculation formulae for calculating evaluation indices related
to the water supply facility, and the water balance visualization
system further performs processing to calculate a value of a
certain one of the evaluation indices by assigning a variable
30 in the calculation formula for calculating the evaluation index
45
with a value of the consumption volume of a certain element
corresponding to the variable, and generate a first graphic
object for the evaluation index having a size in accordance with
the value of the evaluation index thus calculated, processing
5 to generate a second graphic object for the evaluation index
by reflecting, in the variable corresponding to the certain
element in the calculation formula for calculating the
evaluation index, the increase or decrease in the water
consumption volume of the certain element indicated by the
10 calculated introduction effectiveness, and processing to output
a screen having the first and second graphic objects for the
evaluation index.
[0144]
The water balance visualization method of the present
15 embodiment may be such that the storage device of the water
balance visualization system further stores information on
supply environments of the water in each of supply areas supplied
with water by the water supply facility and information on the
supply environments that possibly influence the evaluation
20 indices, and the water balance visualization system further
performs processing to, in the generating of the first graphic
object, calculate a value of the evaluation index for each of
the supply areas by assigning a variable in the calculation
formula for calculating the evaluation index with a value of
25 the consumption volume of a certain element corresponding to
the variable for each of the supply areas, and generate, for
each of the supply areas, the first graphic object having a size
in accordance with the value of the evaluation index thus
calculated, in the generating of the second graphic object,
30 generate the second graphic object for each of the supply areas
46
by reflecting, in the variable corresponding to the certain
element in the calculation formula for calculating the
evaluation index, the increase or decrease in the water
consumption volume of the certain element indicated by the
calculated introduction effectiveness for 5 each of the supply
areas, and based on the information on the supply environments
in each of the supply areas and the information on the supply
environments that possibly influence the evaluation indices,
identify for each supply area the supply environment that
10 possibly influences the evaluation index, and output a screen
having, for each supply area, information on the supply
environment thus identified and the first and second graphic
objects.
[0145]
15 The water balance visualization method of the present
embodiment may be such that the storage device of the water
balance visualization system further stores information on
temporal changes in the supply environments in each supply area,
and the water balance visualization system further performs
20 processing to calculate for each supply area a value of a certain
one of the evaluation indices for a predetermined event at a
future time point a predetermined period of time after a
predetermined time point by assigning a certain variable in the
calculation formula for calculating the evaluation index with
25 a value of the predetermined event at the future time point,
the value of the predetermined event being indicated by the
information on temporal changes in the supply environments for
each supply area, determine a priority order of the supply areas
for introduction of the solution according to sizes of the values
30 of the evaluation indices thus calculated, and output a screen
47
having results of the determination.
Although the present disclosure has been described with
reference to example embodiments, those skilled in the art will
recognize that various changes and modifications may be made
in form and detail without departing from the spirit 5 and scope
of the claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
1. A water balance visualization system comprising:
a storage device that stores information on details of
consumption of water supplied by a water supply facility and
information on solutions for improving predetermined 5 events
related to supply of the water when introduced to the water supply
facility, the information on details of consumption defining
elements including a supply volume of water by the water supply
facility, a consumption mode, and a sub-mode of the consumption
10 mode; and
an arithmetic device that performs
processing to generate, based on the information on
details of consumption, graphic objects for the supply volume,
a consumption volume of the water in the consumption mode, and
15 a consumption volume in the sub-mode of the consumption mode,
the graphic objects having sizes in accordance with the
corresponding supply volume and consumption volumes,
processing to output a screen in which the graphic
objects are arranged according to layered structure of the
20 elements defined in the information on details of consumption,
processing to read a calculation formula for
calculating effectiveness of introducing a certain solution
specified by a predetermined terminal from the information on
solutions and calculate the effectiveness of introducing the
25 certain solution by assigning a variable in the calculation
formula with a value of the consumption volume of a certain
element corresponding to the variable, and
processing to update the size of the graphic object
for the certain element according to an increase or decrease
30 in the water consumption volume of the certain element indicated
49
by the calculated introduction effectiveness.
2. The water balance visualization system according to claim
1, wherein
the storage device further stores 5 information on
calculation formulae for calculating evaluation indices related
to the water supply facility, and
the arithmetic device further performs
processing to calculate a value of a certain one of
10 the evaluation indices by assigning a variable in the calculation
formula for calculating the evaluation index with a value of
the consumption volume of a certain element corresponding to
the variable, and generate a first graphic object for the
evaluation index having a size in accordance with the value of
15 the evaluation index thus calculated,
processing to generate a second graphic object for
the evaluation index by reflecting, in the variable
corresponding to the certain element in the calculation formula
for calculating the evaluation index, the increase or decrease
20 in the water consumption volume of the certain element indicated
by the calculated introduction effectiveness, and
processing to output a screen having the first and
second graphic objects for the evaluation index.
25 3. The water balance visualization system according to claim
2, wherein
the storage device further stores information on supply
environments of the water in each of supply areas supplied with
water by the water supply facility and information on the supply
30 environments that possibly influence the evaluation indices,
50
and
the arithmetic device further performs processing to
in the generating of the first graphic object,
calculate a value of the evaluation index for each of the supply
5 areas by assigning a variable in the calculation formula for
calculating the evaluation index with a value of the consumption
volume of a certain element corresponding to the variable for
each of the supply areas, and generate, for each of the supply
areas, the first graphic object having a size in accordance with
10 the value of the evaluation index thus calculated,
in the generating of the second graphic object,
generate the second graphic object for each of the supply areas
by reflecting, in the variable corresponding to the certain
element in the calculation formula for calculating the
15 evaluation index, the increase or decrease in the water
consumption volume of the certain element indicated by the
calculated introduction effectiveness for each of the supply
areas, and
based on the information on the supply environments
20 in each of the supply areas and the information on the supply
environments that possibly influence the evaluation indices,
identify for each supply area the supply environment that
possibly influences the evaluation index, and output a screen
having, for each supply area, information on the supply
25 environment thus identified and the first and second graphic
objects.
4. The water balance visualization system according to claim
3, wherein
30 the storage device further stores information on temporal
51
changes in the supply environments in each supply area, and
the arithmetic device further performs processing to
calculate for each supply area a value of a certain
one of the evaluation indices for a predetermined event at a
future time point a predetermined period of time after 5 a
predetermined time point by assigning a certain variable in the
calculation formula for calculating the evaluation index with
a value of the predetermined event at the future time point,
the value of the predetermined event being indicated by the
10 information on temporal changes in the supply environments for
each supply area,
determine a priority order of the supply areas for
introduction of the solution according to sizes of the values
of the evaluation indices thus calculated, and
15 output a screen having results of the determination.
5. A water balance visualization method causing an
information processing system to perform processing, the
information processing system including a storage device that
20 stores information on details of consumption of water supplied
by a water supply facility and information on solutions for
improving predetermined events related to supply of the water
when introduced to the water supply facility, the information
on details of consumption defining elements including a supply
25 volume of water by the water supply facility, a consumption mode,
and a sub-mode of the consumption mode, the processing including
processing to generate, based on the information on
details of consumption, graphic objects for the supply volume,
a consumption volume of the water in the consumption mode, and
30 a consumption volume in the sub-mode of the consumption mode,
52
the graphic objects having sizes in accordance with the
corresponding supply volume and consumption volumes,
processing to output a screen in which the graphic objects
are arranged according to layered structure of the elements
defined in the information on details of 5 consumption,
processing to read a calculation formula for calculating
effectiveness of introducing a certain solution specified by
a predetermined terminal from the information on solutions and
calculate the effectiveness of introducing the certain solution
10 by assigning a variable in the calculation formula with a value
of the consumption volume of a certain element corresponding
to the variable in the calculation formula, and
processing to update the size of the graphic object for
the certain element according to an increase or decrease in the
15 water consumption volume of the certain element indicated by
the calculated introduction effectiveness.
6. The water balance visualization method according to claim
5, wherein
20 the storage device of the water balance visualization
system further stores information on calculation formulae for
calculating evaluation indices related to the water supply
facility, and
the information processing system further performs
25 processing to calculate a value of a certain one of
the evaluation indices by assigning a variable in the calculation
formula for calculating the evaluation index with a value of
the consumption volume of a certain element corresponding to
the variable, and generate a first graphic object for the
30 evaluation index having a size in accordance with the value of
53
the evaluation index thus calculated,
processing to generate a second graphic object for
the evaluation index by reflecting, in the variable
corresponding to the certain element in the calculation formula
for calculating the evaluation index, the increase 5 or decrease
in the water consumption volume of the certain element indicated
by the calculated introduction effectiveness, and
processing to output a screen having the first and
second graphic objects for the evaluation index.
10
7. The water balance visualization method according to claim
6, wherein
the storage device of the water balance visualization
system further stores information on supply environments of the
15 water in each of supply areas supplied with water by the water
supply facility and information on the supply environments that
possibly influence the evaluation indices, and
the information processing system further performs
processing to
20 in the generating of the first graphic object,
calculate a value of the evaluation index for each of the supply
areas by assigning a variable in the calculation formula for
calculating the evaluation index with a value of the consumption
volume of a certain element corresponding to the variable for
25 each of the supply areas, and generate, for each of the supply
areas, the first graphic object having a size in accordance with
the value of the evaluation index thus calculated,
in the generating of the second graphic object,
generate the second graphic object for each of the supply areas
30 by reflecting, in the variable corresponding to the certain
54
element in the calculation formula for calculating the
evaluation index, the increase or decrease in the water
consumption volume of the certain element indicated by the
calculated introduction effectiveness for each of the supply
5 areas, and
based on the information on the supply environments
in each of the supply areas and the information on the supply
environments that possibly influence the evaluation indices,
identify for each supply area the supply environment that
10 possibly influences the evaluation index, and output a screen
having, for each supply area, information on the supply
environment thus identified and the first and second graphic
objects.
15 8. The water balance visualization method according to claim
7, wherein
the storage device of the water balance visualization
system further stores information on temporal changes in the
supply environments in each supply area, and
20 the information processing system further performs
processing to
calculate for each supply area a value of a certain
one of the evaluation indices for a predetermined event at a
future time point a predetermined period of time after a
25 predetermined time point by assigning a certain variable in the
calculation formula for calculating the evaluation index with
a value of the predetermined event at the future time point,
the value of the predetermined event being indicated by the
information on temporal changes in the supply environments for
30 each supply area,
55
determine a priority order of the supply areas for
introduction of the solution according to sizes of the values
of the evaluation indices thus calculated, and
output a screen having results of the determination.