What is/was your role in CENTAUR®?
Sonja led the development, testing, and implementation of the fuzzy logic control algorithm, contributing as a key member of the product development team that supported the engineering of CENTAUR®.
What key areas of your expertise were relevant to this project?
Sonja holds a PhD in the development of AI control algorithms to drive energy and cost savings, as well as a master’s degree in Automatic Control Systems. Sonja completed the Knowledge Transfer Partnership on AI control and optimisation of sewer pumping stations. Sonja has an in-depth knowledge of water infrastructure along with machine learning, hydraulic modelling, and data and analytical skills.
What challenges did you help address during the project?
Her previous expertise in delivering fuzzy logic control systems played a key role in the decision to shift from Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to fuzzy logic. Since joining the business in 2014, she has been pivotal in driving innovation, working closely with water companies and universities to build strong partnerships across both commercial and technical sectors.
She provided the ability to model the hydraulic operation of CENTAUR® in industry standard software (SWMM, ICM) has proved invaluable, she has worked with ICM on implementation of Centaur into ICM and with the University of Sheffield on implementation in SWMM.
What is your most significant achievement or proudest moment from this project?
“For me it was our CENTAUR® technology being awarded as the ‘Most Innovative New Technology of the Year’ at the 2018 Water Industry Awards. Also, taking the first video of a gate movement controlled with CENTAUR® algorithm during testing at the CENTAUR® roof rig was an amazing milestone.”
What did you find most rewarding about working on this project?
“Working alongside a multidisciplinary team of experts from various fields, I was fortunate to be part of a high-performing and supportive project team. Together, we built lasting relationships and friendships, celebrating our successes as a team while making even the most demanding projects both fun and rewarding. It was a steep learning curve, leading to significant gains in both knowledge and experience.”
What do you think this project’s influence will be?
The collaborative nature of the CENTAUR® project, which involves partnerships with universities and water companies, fosters innovation and promotes knowledge sharing across both commercial and technical sectors. This collaborative approach is key to driving further advancements in environmental monitoring and the application of AI technologies.
Given its potential to solve common wastewater management issues, CENTAUR®’s technology could be scalable to various regions worldwide while adapting to local needs.
