Company-wide data integration model for the water utility sector

Abstract

Data in the water utility sector are generated by different tools of different types in different formats and stored in different systems that run in different platforms and located in different places. This limits the value-adding potential of data thus posing a need for company-wide integrative approaches to data management. Though data warehousing proves to be the best solution in this regard, prior models reviewed in this paper offer limited integrative capabilities with focus on unique operational functions. Therefore, this paper advances a data integration model designed according to Kimball’s Business Dimensional Lifecycle methodology and comprising of the processes of water abstraction, production, storage, distribution, consumption, and the revenue and cost functions as well. The paper aims at establishing the integration capabilities of data integration across the value chain with a specific application to Water Utilities Corporation Botswana (WUC).