Multi-Agent System Approach for an Integrated Urban Wastewater Management

The integrated management of Urban Wastewater Systems (UWS) encloses characteristics of complex systems with dynamic processes. The UWS is composed by several heterogeneous and interconnected elements that as a whole exhibit one or more properties not obvious from the properties of the individual parts. Moreover, these elements interact between them as well as with the environment, varying its state. In order to represent these abovementioned characteristics we suggest to abstract and conceptualize the UWS as a Multi-Agent System. Agents can interact between them and this makes feasible an integrated management of the UWS in order to ensure the Wastewater Treatment Plant efficiency (i.e. to avoid overloads) and to protect the water quality in the river. We propose the development of the Multi-Agent System by using the Gaia methodology. Finally, we propose to deal with the system requirements using a combinatorial optimization process.