SIMPO: A simplified intelligent modelling platform online for code-free and shareable wastewater treatment process modelling

Activated sludge models are crucial for designing and optimizing wastewater treatment systems, which are the cornerstone of sustainable water resource management. However, their complexity creates a high barrier to entry, limiting their use. In a new study published in Water & Ecology, a group of researchers from China developed a simplified intelligent modelling platform online (SIMPO) for wastewater process modelling. Notably, SIMPO is an open-source, free-of-charge, zero-threshold and cloud-native software-as-a-service platform designed to enable everyone to use professional grade wastewater treatment modelling.

Reducing barriers to research, engineering, and education

SIMPO addresses the key challenges faced by different users:

For researchers: SIMPO automates complex tasks such as sensitivity analysis, uncertainty assessment, and parameter estimation, allowing them to focus on interpreting results rather than coding. This study indicates that it can detect subtle errors in published models, thereby improving the reliability of the research.

For engineers: SIMPO provides a practical tool for designing and optimizing processes without requiring advanced programming skills. Engineers can quickly build, simulate, and validate models for real-world applications, improving the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants.

For students: SIMPO offers an intuitive, code-free interface and a public library of established models significantly reduce the learning curve. Students can quickly grasp complex modelling concepts and try different scenarios, making it an ideal educational tool.

Key Innovations of SIMPO

Code-Free, Drag-and-Drop Interface: Users can construct complex treatment processes visually and edit biochemical models using a familiar matrix-style editor, eliminating the need for programming.

Robust and Accurate Simulation Solvers: Dynamic algorithms ensure high computational accuracy, validated against the industry-standard AQUASIM software with near-perfect consistency.

Built-in Error Detection and Model Evaluation: Automated balance checking and visualization tools help users quickly identify and correct errors in model structure or data fitting.

Advanced Analysis Tools: Integrated algorithms for sensitivity, uncertainty, and parameter estimation provide deep insights into model behavior and reliability.

Open and Collaborative Framework: As a cloud platform, SIMPO fosters open science through public repositories and a novel peer-review workflow, allowing seamless sharing of models, data, and results.

Contributing to a Sustainable Future

The platform's effectiveness is demonstrated through case studies where it identified and helped resolve flaws in established models. Its capacity to make high-level modelling accessible, accurate, and collaborative positions SIMPO as a key enabler for the next generation of water professionals.

"By democratizing access to advanced modelling tools, SIMPO empowers a broader community to innovate in wastewater treatment," explains corresponding author Feng Jiang. "This aligns directly with UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), as better models lead to more efficient, cost-effective, and resilient wastewater treatment infrastructure."

"By combining powerful algorithms with a user-centric design, SIMPO provides an efficient, reliable and open solution for wastewater treatment modelling, driving innovation and accessibility in environmental engineering research," adds lead author Jun Wang. "Going forward, SIMPO would integrate APIs for AI tools such as DeepSeek to achieve more intelligent and efficient modelling, driven by both knowledge and data."

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Contact the author: 

Feng Jiang,

-School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Technology for Water Pollution Control, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

Email:jiangf58@mail.sysu.edu.cn

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