Task Group
Primodal staff have been and are currently involved in various wastewater treatment research-related projects. Among other activities, Primodal staff are involved in two IWA Task Groups.
Dr. Copp has been involved in the Benchmarking of Control Strategies for Wastewater Treatment Plants (BSM) Task Group since the late 1990’s. This Task Group has coordinated the development of the Benchmark Simulation Models. These models were originally conceived of as a means to evaluate wastewater treatment control strategies in an unbiased way using simulation. However, the BSM development has spurred many spin-off modelling benefits that are now being seen in commercially available simulators including influent generation tools, sensor and actuator models, new primary clarification models and model interfacing tools. Work on the BSMs has also resulted in the development of effluent quality indices, cost indices and more recently the initial development of a risk index which is meant to help model and identify times of potential process related causes of bulking and foaming.
Dr Belia has been the Chair of the Design and Operations Uncertainty (DOUTGroup) Task Group for the past 4 years. The DOUT group is evaluating uncertainty evaluation with an aim to identify gaps in available methods and knowledge. The group is currently in the final stages of the development of an industry-wide, recognized protocol that incorporates uncertainty evaluations in model-based plant design and optimisation. The dissemination of the group’s work is ongoing with numerous peer-reviewed publications and workshops at WWTmod2010, the IWA World Congress, WEFTEC and SPN6 as well as the Design, Operation and Economics of Large Waste Water Treatment Plants.
DOUT Simulation Benchmark
Publications
Publications, Conference Proceedings, Workshop Presentations and Books
| Andalib M, Giovannone A, Copp JB, Togna P and Ledwell S (2013) Novel MicroCTM Mathematical Model for Biological Nutrient Removal in Activated Sludge Systems: Introduction of the multi heterotrophic-biomass simulation. WEFTEC 2013, Chicago, Illinois. October 2013. |
| Benedetti, L., Belia, E., Cierkens, K., Flameling, T., De Baets, B., Nopens, I. and Weijers, S. (2013) The incorporation of variability and uncertainty evaluations in WWTP design by means of stochastic dynamic modeling: the case of the Eindhoven WWTP upgrade. Water Science and Technology (accepted). |
| Wastewater Treatment Process Modeling, WEF Manual of Practice No. 31, Second Edition, (2013) Prepared by the Wastewater Treatment Process Modeling Task Force of the Water Environment Federation. |
| Belia, E., Johnson, B., Benedetti, L., Bott, C.B., Martin, C., Rieger, L., Neumann, M.B, Murthy, S., Weijers, S. and Vanrolleghem, P.A. (2013) Uncertainty Evaluations in Model-Based WWTP Design for High Level Nutrient Removal: Literature Review and Research Needs, WERF Issue Paper. |
| Belia, E., Neumann, M.B, Benedetti, L., Johnson, B., Murthy, S., Weijers, S. and Vanrolleghem, P.A. Editor(s) (2013) Uncertainty in Wastewater Treatment Design and Operation: Addressing Current Practices and Future Directions. IWA Publishing, London, UK. ISBN: 9781780401027 (in preparation). www.iwapublishing.com/template.cfm?name=isbn9781780401027&type=forthcoming |
| Workshop: Modeling the Right Way – Incorporate Good Modeling Practices Into Your Work! October 6, 2013, Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Alferes J. Copp JB, and Vanrolleghem PA (2013) High quality monitoring of water systems using in situ automatic measurement stations. 48th Central Canadian Symposium on Water Quality Research & Canadian Water Management Conference (CWWA), Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, March 6-8, 2013 |
| Alferes J, Tik S, Copp JB and Vanrolleghem PA (2013) Advanced monitoring of water systems using in situ measurement stations: Data validation and fault detection. Water Science and Technology. |
| Gernaey KV, Copp JB, Vanrolleghem PA and Jeppsson U Lessons learned from the WWTP benchmarking exercise. 11th IWA Conference on Instrumentation Control and Automation. September 18-20, 2013. Narbonne, France. |
| Copp JB, Vale P and Belk I (2012) Operational Control of a RAS Fermentation Process for Enhancing Biological Phosphorus Removal, WEFTEC 2012, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 29-October 3, 2012. |
| Copp JB, Richards A, and Wild R (2012) Existing Assets: To Be or Not To Be, WEFTEC 2012, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 29-October 3, 2012. |
| Belia, E., Benedetti, L., Cierkens, K., De Baets, B., Flameling, T., Nopens, I. and Weijers, S. (2012) Translating safety factors to sources of variability and uncertainty; Model-based design evaluation for the Eindhoven WWTP. In: Proceedings 85th Annual WEF Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC2012). New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, September 29 – October 3, 2012. |
| Belia, E., Kraitzer, T., Icekson-Tal, N., Sela, Y. (2012) Modeling The Dan Region Wastewater Treatment And Reclamation Project. In: Proceedings of the IWA Regional Conference on Wastewater Purification & Reuse, WWPR2012, 28th, 29th and 30th of March, 2012, Heraklion, Greece. |
| Neumann, M.B., Vanrolleghem, P.A., Benedetti, L., Weijers, S., Murthy, S., Johnson, B.R., Belia, E. (2012) How can we currently account for uncertainty and variability in model-based projects? In: Proceedings of the 3rd IWA/WEF Wastewater Treatment Modelling Seminar, Mont-Sainte-Anne QC, Canada, February 26 – 28, 2012. |
| Benedetti, L., Belia, E., Cierkens, K., Flameling, T., De Baets, B., Nopens, I. and Weijers, S. (2012) The incorporation of variability and uncertainty evaluations in WWTP design by means of probabilistic dynamic modeling: the case of the Eindhoven WWTP upgrade. In: Proceedings of WEFTEC2012, New Orleans, LA, USA, 29 September – 3 October 2012. Platform presentation. |
| Belia, E., and Benedetti, L. (2012) Modélisation de la station d’épuration de Traffeyère Journée d’échanges des experts francophones en modélisation Groupe ASTEE “Modélisation” 3 juillet 2012, Polytech, Université Montpellier II. |
| Choubert JM, Rieger L, Shaw A, Copp JB, Spérandio M, Soerensen K, Rönner-Holm S, Morgenroth E, Melcer H and Gillot S (2012) Rethinking wastewater characterization methods – A position paper, WWTmod 2012, Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec, Canada, February 26-28, 2012. |
| Alferes J, Tik S, Copp JB and Vanrolleghem PA (2013) Advanced monitoring of water systems using in situ measurement stations: Data validation and fault detection. New Developments in IT & Water Conference. November 4 – 6, 2012. Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
| JeppssonU, Alex J, Batstone D, Benedetti L, Comas J, Copp JB, Corominas L, Flores-Alsina X, Gernaey KV, Nopens I, Pons MN, Rodríguez-Roda I, Rosen C, Steyer JP, Vanrolleghem PA, Volcke EIP and Vrecko D (2011) Quo Vadis Benchmark Simulation Models?, Watermatex 2011, San Sebastian, Spain, June 20-22, 2011. |
| Belia, E., Benedetti, L., Johnson, B., Murthy, S., Neumann, M.B., Vanrolleghem, P.A., Weijers, S. (2011) Towards a paradigm shift: introducing explicit uncertainty evaluations in model based design. 2011 Borchardt Conference, February 23 & 24, Ann Arbor, MI. |
| Cierkens, K., Belia, E., Benedetti, L., Weijers, S., Flameling, T., De Baets, B. and Nopens, I. (2011) Comparison of implicit and explicit uncertainty analyses in the design of a WWTP upgrade. In: Proceedings of the 8th IWA Symposium on Systems Analysis and Integrated Assessment (WATERMATEX 2011), San Sebastian, Spain, 20-22 June 2011 (winner of Best Poster Award). |
| Workshop: How close to your permit do you design or operate your plant? Effluent regulations, sampling strategies and risk. 11th IWA Specialized Conference “Design, Operation and Economics of Large Waste Water Treatment Plants”, Budapest Hungary, 06 September 2011. |
| Hübner C, Thron M, Copp J.B., Rieger L and Vanrolleghem PR (2010) Engineering Challenges and Approaches in Water Quality Monitoring Networks. Proceedings of the 2nd IFAC Symposium on Telematics Applications.Timisoara, Romania, October 5 – 8, 2010. |
| Copp J.B., Belia E, Hübner C, Thron M, Vanrolleghem PR, and Rieger L (2010) Towards the Automation of Water Quality Monitoring Networks. Proceedings of the 6th Annual IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (IEEE CASE). Toronto, Canada. August 21-24 2010. |
| Workshop: How will your wastewater plant really run? Evaluating risk in design and operations. WEFTEC 2010 Workshop 203, New Orleans, USA, October 3, 2010. |
| Nutrient Removal. WEF Manual of Practice No. 34, New ISBN 9780071737098, November 2010, Published by: Water Environment Federation |
| Belia, E. (2010) Introducing the DOUT Initiative. W203: How will your wastewater plant really run? Evaluating risk in design and operations. WEFTEC 2010, October 3, New Orleans, USA. |
| Belia, E. (2010) Design and Operational Uncertainty Task Group Workshop: Overview, Structure and Objectives. Explicitly Dealing with Uncertainty in WWTP Design and Operation. IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, Montreal, 19-24 September 2010. |
| Workshop 203: How Will Your Wastewater Plant Really Run? Evaluating Risk in Design and Operation WEFTEC 2010, New Orleans, Florida. October 2010. |
| Modelling Resources and the Application of a Calibrated Model. WEFTEC 2009, Orlando, Florida. October 2009. |
| Modeling the Aeration System for Efficiency: More Than Just The Air Flow. W203: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint and Saving Energy Through System-Wide Optimization. WEFTEC 2009, Orlando, Florida. October 2009. |
| Belia, E., Benedetti, L., Johnson, B., Murthy, S., Vanrolleghem, P.A., Gernaey, K. V., Gillot, S., Neumann, M. B., Weijers, S., and Copp, JB. (2009). Wastewater treatment modelling: discussing uncertainty. INFLUENTS, Vol 4, 81-83. |
| Belia, E., Amerlinck, Y., Benedetti, L., Johnson, B., Sin G., Vanrolleghem, P.A., Gernaey, K.V., Gillot, S., Neumann, M.B., Rieger, L., Shaw, A. and Villez, K. (2009) Wastewater treatment modelling: dealing with uncertainties. Wat. Sci. Tech., 60(8), 1929-1941. |
| Plant Wide Simulation Protocol and Platforms for Benchmarking of Control Strategies for Wastewater Treatment Plants. IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, Vienna, Austria. September 7–12, 2008. |
| Workshop: Modelling accuracy: dealing with uncertainties. 1st IWA/WEF Wastewater Treatment Modelling Seminar, Mont-Sainte-Anne QC, Canada, June 1-3, 2008. |
| Cassidy, DP, Hirl, P.J. and Belia, E. (2008) Methane production from ethanol co-products in anaerobic SBRs. Water Science & Technology. 58(4): 789–793. |
| Cassidy, DP, Hirl P.J. and Belia, E. (2008) Methane production from the soluble fraction of distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in anaerobic SBRs. Water Environment Research. 80(6): 570-575. |
| Schraa, O., Tole, B., Belia, E., Luo, J., Froehlich, D., Jenkins, J., Becker, E. and Martinak, P. (2008) Promoting On-Site Use of Wastewater Process Models with Customized Simulators. In: Proceedings WEFTEC 2008, Chicago, October 19 – 22. |
| Belia, E. (2008) Modelling accuracy: dealing with uncertainties: Motivation, scope, objectives. 1st IWA/WEF Wastewater Treatment Modelling Seminar, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, June 1-3. |
| Nopens I., Batstone D., Copp J. B., Jeppsson U., Volcke E., Alex J. and Vanrolleghem P. A. (2008) An ASM/ADM model interface for enhanced dynamic plant-wide simulation. Water Research, submitted |
| Copp J. B., Jeppsson U. and Vanrolleghem P. A. (2008) The Benchmark Simulation Models – A valuable collection of modelling tools. iEMSs 2008: International Congress on Environmental Assessment and Decision Making, Barcelona, Spain. July 7-10, 2008. |
| Copp J. B., Johnson B. R., Shaw A. R., Burbano M. S., Narayanan B., Frank K., Kinnear D. J., Melcer H., Brischke K. (2008) A balancing act: The consulting engineers’ pragmatic view of process modelling. WWTmod2008, 1st IWA/WEF Wastewater Treatment Modelling Seminar, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada. June 1-3, 2008. |
| Phillips H. M., Sahlstedt K. E., Frank K., Bratby J., Brennan B., Rogowski S., Pier D., Anderson W., Mulas M., Copp J. B., Shirodkar N. (2008) Wastewater treatment modelling in practice: A collaborative discussion of the state of the art. WWTmod2008, 1st IWA/WEF Wastewater Treatment Modelling Seminar, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada. June 1-3, 2008. |
| Grau P., Copp J. B., Vanrolleghem P. A., Takács I. and Ayesa E. (2008) A comparative analysis of different approaches for integrated WWTP modelling. WWTmod2008, 1st IWA/WEF Wastewater Treatment Modelling Seminar, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada. June 1-3, 2008. |
| Copp J. B., Jeppsson U., Pons M-N, Nopens I, Alex J., Gernaey K. V., Rosen C., Steyer J-P and Vanrolleghem P. A. (2008) Benchmark Simulation Model No 2 – General protocol and advances in modelling application. WWTmod2008, 1st IWA/WEF Wastewater Treatment Modelling Seminar, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada. June 1-3, 2008. |
| Pons M.N., Jeppsson U., Lourenço da Silva M. C., Nopens I., Alex J., Copp J.B., Gernaey K.V., Rosen C., Steyer J.-P. and Vanrolleghem P.A. (2008) Sensitivity analysis of the Benchmark Simulation Model n° 1. 18th European Symposium On Computer Aided Process Engineering. Lyon, France, June 1-4, 2008. |
| Technical Workshop about WWTP Modelling: Benchmarking of WWTPs control strategies, a useful tool in WWTP design and management. University of Girona, Girona, Spain. April 24th 2007 |
| Workshop on Benchmarking of control strategies for WWTPs – Let’s put it into practice. 7th International IWA Symposium on Systems Analysis and Integrated Assessment in Water Management, Watermatex 2007. Washington, D.C., USA, May 6, 2007 |
| Workshop on Applied Systems Analysis: Challenges in applying systems analysis methods to wastewater process modeling. 7th International IWA Symposium on Systems Analysis and Integrated Assessment in Water Management, Watermatex 2007. Washington, D.C., USA, May 6, 2007. |
| Current Developments on the Application of Mathematical Models for Wastewater Treatment Plants – Good Modelling Practice and Benchmarking of Control Strategies, 5th World Water Congress, Beijing 2006, Wednesday, September 13 2006 |
| Snowling S., Belia E., Copp J. B., and Schraa O. (2005) A 3-dimensional aeration tank model for activated sludge simulation, using off-line computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data. 78th Water Environment Federation WEFTEC Conference, Washington, D.C., USA, October 29 – November 2, 2005. |
| Belia E., Copp J. B., Snowling S., Schraa O. and Robinson W. (2005) Wastewater treatment plant upgrade: the incorporation of process modeling from conceptual design to implementation and operation. 78th Water Environment Federation WEFTEC Conference, Washington, D.C., USA, October 29 – November 2, 2005. |
| Cassidy, D.P. and Belia, E. (2005) Nitrogen and phosphorus removal from an abattoir wastewater in a SBR with aerobic granular sludge. Water Research, 39, 4817-4823. |
| Snowling, S., Belia, E., Froehlich D., Schraa O. and Copp J. (2005) How Modeling Can Identify Process Problems: A Case Study of a High-Purity Oxygen (HPO) Plant. In: Proceedings Water Environment Federation (WEF) Specialty Conference on Sustainable Management of Water Quality Systems for the 21st Century, San Francisco, CA August 28-31. |
| Schraa, O., Belia, E., and Churn, C.C. (2005) Simulating ‘What Ifs’ at an Industrial Facility. Industrial Wastewater, 4 (3) |
| Belia, E. and Copp, J. (2005) Methodology and review of on-site implementation of models. WEFTEC Workshop: Guidelines for Use of Activated Sludge Models in Practice, W210. |
| Belia, E. and Copp, J. (2004) Practical Benefits of the Application of Modelling for Biological Nutrient Removal. 54th Annual Env. Engineering Conference, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. |
| Snowling, S., Schraa, O., Copp, J. and Belia, E. (2004) A Dynamic, Mechanistic Model for Membrane Bioreactor (MBR). In: Proceedings WEF/A&WMA 10th Annual Industrial Wastes Technical and Regulatory Conference. August 22-25, Philidelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. |
| Copp, J., Belia, E., Snowling, S. and Schraa, O. (2004) Anaerobic digestion: A new model for plant-wide wastewater treatment process modeling. In: Proceedings 4th IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, September 19-24, Marrakech, Morocco. |
| Schraa, O., Belia, E. and Churn, C.C. (2004) The Use of Process Modeling to Investigate the Performance of a Large Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant. In: Proceedings WEFTEC 2004, New Orleans, USA. |
| Belia, E., Stephenson, J., Schnell, A., Hribljan, M. and Cober, K. (2003) Development of a Biosolids Master Plan in Ontario. In: Proceedings of WEAO 32nd Annual Technical Symposium, Toronto, ON, Canada. |
| Belia, E., Stephenson, J. and Cober, K. (2003) Development of a Biosolids Master Plan in Ontario Using Modelling and Costing Tools. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Canadian Organic Residuals Recycling Conference, Penticton, BC, Canada. |
| Copp J. B. and Spanjers H. (2003) Simulation of Respirometry-Based Detection and Mitigation of Activated Sludge Toxicity. In: Control Engineering Practice, Benchmarking Modelling and Control in Wastewater Treatment – Edited by U. Jeppsson and M.-N. Pons, Vol 12/3 pp 305-313. |
| Copp J.B. et al. (2002) Respirometry in Control of the Activated Sludge Process: Benchmarking Control Strategies, IWA Scientific and Technical Report No. 11, edited by John B. Copp, Henri Spanjers & Peter Vanrolleghem. IWA Publishing, London UK. (192 pages) ISBN 19-002-2251-5 |
| Belia, E. and Takacs, I. (2002) Integrated On-line Systems in Wastewater Treatment. 2002 Borchard Conference, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. |
| Copp J.B. editor (2001) The COST Simulation Benchmark: Description and Simulator Manual, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg (144 pages) ISBN 92-894-1658-0 |
| Ko, J., Woo H., Copp J. B., Kim S. and Kim C. (2001) Evaluation of Several Respirometry-Based Activated Sludge Toxicity Control Strategies. Water Science and Technology, 45, (4-5), 143–150. |
| Copp J. B. and Spanjers H. (1999) Applicability of a Simulation Benchmark to Respirometry-based Control Strategies. Focus on Biotechnology (Volume 3C) – Biotechnology for the Environment: Wastewater Treatment and Modeling, Waste Gas Handling edited by Spiros N. Agathos & Walter Reineke. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. ISBN 1-4020-1131-8 (277 pages). |
| Copp J. B. and Dold P. L. (1998) Comparing Sludge Production Under Aerobic and Anoxic Conditions. Water Science and Technology, 38 (1), 285-294. |
| Copp J. B. and Dold P. L. (1998) Confirming the Nitrate-to-Oxygen Conversion Factor for Denitrification. Water Research, 32, 1296-1304. |
| Copp J. B. and Murphy K. L. (1995) Estimation of the Active Nitrifying Biomass in Activated Sludge. Water Research, 29, 1855-1862. |