Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Demystifying AI within the Water Business | by Davar Ardalan

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Individuals and organizers of the TriCon AI Workshop: (L-R) Travis Wagner (Trinnex), Alana Gildner (BV), Yudu (Sonia) Wu (WSP), Madeleine Driscoll (Hazen and Sawyer), Craig Daley (Metropolis of Baltimore), John Smith (Haley Ward), Brian Ball (VA Engineering), David Gisborn (DC Water), and Davar Ardalan (TulipAI). Brandon O’Daniel of Xylem, one of many audio system, was not current within the photograph

Water trade professionals explored the intersection of synthetic intelligence (AI) and machine studying (ML) throughout a pre-conference workshop in Ocean Metropolis, Maryland yesterday, discovering that whereas AI’s roots return to 1948, right this moment’s Generative AI has the potential to fully upend their trade.

Designed to make AI applied sciences accessible and related, the classes emphasised the important position of knowledge and the significance of knowledge governance, sparking pleasure and curiosity amongst contributors — all main as much as the Chesapeake Tri-Affiliation Convention (TriCon), the water trade’s premier occasion.

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Craig Daly, Chief of Water Amenities Division, Metropolis of Baltimore DPW on the basics of AI and ML

Professionals from the Metropolis of Rockville, WSSC, Metropolis of Baltimore, DC Water, and regional engineering corporations gathered to discover how AI will be successfully utilized to their discipline. Offered by the CWEA and CSAWWA Asset Administration Committee, the session featured Craig Daly from the Metropolis of Baltimore, Travis Wagner of Trinnex, Brandon O’Daniel of Xylem, John Smith of Haley Ward and Davar Ardalan of TulipAI.

The workshop centered on sensible, actionable steps, displaying contributors how these instruments can improve accuracy, save time, and optimize their water programs. Breakout classes additionally launched contributors to the real-world purposes of generative AI instruments.

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Travis Wagner, Vice-President at Trinnex introduced on Economics of AI in Remedy Processes

John Smith of Haley Ward and Davar Ardalan of TulipAI led a particular section titled “Accountable AI Adventures: Innovating Environmental Engineering,” which highlighted the significance of moral concerns when utilizing AI within the water trade.

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Smith and Ardalan launched the beta model of John Smith GPT, an AI assistant designed to assist John and his crew of environmental engineers in duties like proposal writing, value estimating, and advertising and marketing methods. They emphasised two important factors: first, by no means share proprietary info with an open AI software; and second, all the time be clear when utilizing AI, simply as you’ll with a bibliography or by naming your sources. This transparency is important for sustaining belief and integrity in how AI is built-in into skilled practices.

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Strive the beta model of John Smith GPT right here. The customized AI:

Leverages a long time of civil engineering data from veteran civil engineer John Oliver Smith.

Gives info on supplies related to grant tasks, enhancing proposal element.

Provides knowledge on eco-friendly supplies and strategies, supporting sustainability aims.

John Smith additionally underscored the significance of not sharing confidential info with AI programs. He likened AI to a robust software that, like every other, must be used responsibly. Furthermore, he inspired attendees to pilot AI instruments with their groups earlier than full-scale implementation, permitting for collaborative enter and refinement of the expertise to swimsuit particular wants. Their message was clear: AI can remodel the trade, but it surely should be used thoughtfully and with full consciousness of its moral implications.

As AI instruments proceed to develop, classes like this at TriCon are important for staying knowledgeable and ready. They equip water professionals with the instruments and understanding they should harness new applied sciences successfully and responsibly.

This content material was crafted with the help of synthetic intelligence, which contributed to structuring the narrative, guaranteeing grammatical accuracy, summarizing key factors, and enhancing the readability and coherence of the fabric.

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