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Q&A: Samp’s Approach to Streamlining Water Utility Operations with 3D and AI
As the World Water Tech Innovation Summit approaches quickly, the focus is on finding innovative solutions to address the most pressing challenges in the water industry; aging infrastructure, growing regulatory demands, and the need for modernisation in operations. With digital transformation at the forefront of these discussions, Samp, a Silver Partner at the summit, is leading the charge in transforming asset management. Their cutting-edge solutions leverage 3D scanning and AI to accelerate the modernisation process, improve safety, and streamline maintenance operations.
Samp is a forward-thinking company that is reshaping the way utilities manage their infrastructure. By blending state-of-the-art technology with practical solutions, Samp is enabling utilities to meet the complex demands of today’s rapidly changing landscape. We caught up with Thomas Grand, COO of Samp, to delve deeper into how 3D asset management and AI are revolutionising utility operations.
With aging infrastructure and increasing regulatory pressures, how can 3D asset management help utilities modernise faster while staying compliant?
3D asset management offers a more visual way of working, enabling all stakeholders to be more effective. Regardless of age, experience, or discipline, the human brain is highly efficient at processing visual information. Combining technical data—sometimes complex to understand on its own—with an easily shared 3D context is a transformative approach to the management of existing assets. This not only brings efficiency gains but also significantly improves safety and compliance by simplifying complex information and ensuring more accurate decision-making.
Many utilities struggle with slow and costly modernisation efforts. How can AI help accelerate these processes while ensuring accuracy and efficiency?
A key challenge in modernisation is understanding the true current state of assets and facilities. Older plans often don’t reflect reality, making it hard for utilities to plan effectively. AI bridges this gap by reconciling outdated or incomplete data with real-time, on-the-ground insights gathered through scanning technologies. By quickly processing large amounts of data, AI helps utilities accurately map their assets, ensuring that modernisation efforts are not only faster but also more precise, cost-effective, and efficient.
Digital transformation is a hot topic, but adoption can be slow. What are the biggest misconceptions about 3D asset management, and how can utilities overcome them?
To succeed, digital transformation must be built around people. This means digital systems, especially asset management solutions, need to engage users by offering immediate value. The ‘time to value’ must be very short to ensure adoption. A common misconception is that digital systems are too complex or inaccessible for the everyday user. But when the systems are intuitive, provide easily digestible data, and integrate smoothly with current workflows, adoption happens organically. Ensuring the data is field-checked and easily updated is key to fostering confidence and widespread use.
