Utilities are increasingly expected to move faster – from reacting to system conditions to anticipating what comes next. In a recent Autodesk Water Drop walkthrough video, Tim Medearis walks you through how utilities can compare real-time SCADA data with hydraulic model results and forecast future system behavior by connecting Info360 Insight and InfoWater Pro.
This workflow brings together time series sensor data and hydraulic simulations in a shared, cloud-based environment, making it easier for operators, modelers, and planners to align around the same system view – and the same decisions.
How SCADA and hydraulic modeling work together
The video walks through a practical workflow designed for operators, modelers, and planners:
- Real-time and historical SCADA data are viewed in Info360 Insight.
- A calibrated InfoWater Pro hydraulic model is run using live boundary conditions.
- Simulation results are published to the cloud and visualized alongside sensor data.
- The model is extended into the future to forecast system behavior for the coming week.
This creates a continuous timeline where measured data transitions into predicted results for tanks, pumps, pressures, and flows – all in one dashboard.
Takeaway #1: Bring SCADA and hydraulic models into the same conversation
By linking InfoWater Pro with Info360 Insight, utilities can directly compare hydraulic model outputs with real-time and historical SCADA data. This makes it easier to validate model performance, build confidence in calibration, and ensure that modeling results are grounded in operational reality.
Instead of models living in isolation, they become part of an ongoing system narrative. Instead of static snapshots, utilities gain a living view of their distribution network.
Takeaway #2: Use calibrated models to forecast what happens next
Once a model is calibrated and connected to live boundary conditions, it can be used to predict future system behavior, not just analyze the past. In the video, a SCADA simulation is run starting from a specific date and time and extended one week into the future.
This allows users to see where recorded sensor data ends and forecasted model results begin – supporting proactive planning for tank levels, pump operations, and system performance.
Takeaway #3: Share insights through accessible cloud dashboards
Publishing simulation results to Info360 Insight makes them available in a familiar, visual environment that includes maps, dashboards, and time series charts. Multiple simulations can be compared, and results can be shared across teams without requiring everyone to open the desktop modeling software.
This accessibility helps bridge the gap between modeling, operations, and planning – and supports better, faster decision-making across the organization.
Want to adopt this workflow?
This workflow represents an important step in the broader digital transformation many utilities are pursuing. By tying together real-time sensor data, hydraulic modeling, and cloud-based visualization, utilities move closer to a digital twin of their distribution system – one that supports day-to-day operations as well as long-term planning.
The video only scratches the surface, but it shows what’s possible when modeling and operational data work together instead of in silos – and how connecting these systems turns models into decision-support tools rather than standalone analyses.
Want to go deeper into this workflow – or these two apps?
- We have a video that shows you how to connect InfoWater Pro with Info360 Insight.
- Got a technical question? Visit the InfoWater Pro Technical Hub
- Not familiar with Info360 Insight? Watch this short demo.
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel. We have a big playlist of other Water Drop workflow videos.