Operators’ Walkthrough Lab (OWL): Digital Circle in Action
CHALLENGE: Designing customized solutions that truly work for I+NU communities requires the acceptance of water operators who will be tasked with maintaining and optimizing water systems, as well as community leadership and members at large.
It can be difficult to envision system designs and builds to ensure they meet desired criteria, and to train operators on customized systems before they are built. The OWL also serves as a communication tool, facilitating experience-based discussions as people are able to walkthrough the plant, interact with the equipment and provide insight and feedback before the plant is fabricated.
SOLUTION: RESEAU developed two augmented reality (AR) applications that allow virtual walkthroughs of a treatment plant before it has been manufactured. AR reduces the risk of building the wrong thing and engages the operators and the communities into an iterative design process that implements their insights so alternative fabrication options can be considered. The AR apps also provide remote operation and support capabilities, superimposing live data on the AR to allow operators and engineers to remotely monitor, troubleshoot and make necessary adjustments to plant operation. It also facilitates training and peer support among operators. The apps were piloted at Yukon University to provide students with immersive exposure to various water and wastewater environments in 2020, when fieldtrips were problematic.
KEY CONSIDER ATIONS: Designing innovative platforms to enhance the immersive experience and connectivity among representatives of value chain partners, talent and communities is a key component of our Community Circle platform. COVID-19 increased the need for enhancing and transforming contactless experiences. However, our focus is not on throwing technology at our partner communities; rather, we seek to track what their experience looks like, identifying gaps and continually improving our process. The platform can also be used as part of operator training programs, allowing participants to experience different types of treatment solutions during a time when travel to actual plants is not feasible.
RESEAU created AR apps for virtual walkthroughs of water treatment plants, enabling community input, reducing design errors, and providing remote monitoring and training. These tools were piloted at Yukon University in 2020 to support operator training and design accuracy.
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Mobile Research Labs
Our advanced mobile labs promote design thinking by creating opportunities for a deeper understanding of the needs and interests of the community, operators, and other stakeholders, including government and regulatory bodies.
Water Health Equity
One in six Canadians, including the majority of 1.6 million Indigenous people, live in rural areas and often face exposure to negative health and socio-economic impacts from unsafe drinking water. It’s a persistent crisis that has dragged on for decades, a dubious achievement for a rich nation often celebrated as a global humanitarian and human rights leader.
Treading Water
To tackle water advisories in Indigenous communities, we created "Treading Water," a 20-minute play with UBC's research-based theatre experts. The play highlights the experiences of water operators and communities, aiming to spark dialogue on water quality issues.
