Risk Management

  • 1.  Request for Expert Feedback: Cross-Sector Supply Chain Ontology for infrastructure

    Posted 5 days ago
    Edited by Jesse Osborne 5 days ago

    Hello all - I'm reaching out to the community for feedback from experts within the Water and Wastewater Systems sector.

    I'm currently developing a cross-sector supply chain ontology that models the end-to-end flow of infrastructure functions across all sixteen critical infrastructure sectors defined in Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21). 

    The goal is to build a unified, interoperable ontology that:

    • Clarifies functional interdependencies across sectors

    • Supports identifying cascading effects form asset disruptions for risk mitigation planning and shared situational awareness

    • Enables analytics through graph-based modeling

    At the center of this effort, I have a set of seven normalized supply chain stages that I've created which apply to all sectors:

    1. Resource/Input Acquisition

    2. Processing/Conversion

    3. Production/Generation

    4. Transmission/Distribution

    5. End-Use Delivery

    6. Storage/Maintenance

    7. Waste/Recovery/After-use

    Each sector is then mapped into this structure through specific functional steps that are sector-specific with their associated infrastructure asset types.

    Below is an example of how the Water and Wastewater Systems sector aligns with this model.

    Water / Wastewater - Supply Chain Stages & Sector-Specific Steps

    1. Source Water & Collection (Stage: Resource/Input Acquisition)

    Surface water and groundwater sources feed intakes, canals, or aqueducts. Activities include watershed protection, source monitoring, and SDWA-required source water assessments.
    Representative assets: reservoirs, rivers, aquifers, wells, intake structures, conveyance canals.

    2. Treatment to Potable Standards (Stage: Processing/Conversion)

    Raw water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA maximum contaminant levels.
    Representative assets: water treatment plants (WTPs), clarifiers, filters, chlorination/UV units, water quality labs.

    3. Storage & Pressure Management (Stage: Storage/Maintenance)

    Treated water is stored in elevated tanks or ground reservoirs, and pumps/PRVs maintain pressure zones and meet fire-flow requirements.
    Representative assets: water towers, ground storage tanks, high-service pumps, pressure reducing valves.

    4. Distribution & Customer Connections (Stage: Transmission/Distribution)

    Trunk and distribution mains deliver water to customers. Metering, valves, hydrants, and backflow prevention maintain safety and reliability.
    Representative assets: distribution mains, valves, hydrants, meters, backflow devices.

    5. Wastewater Collection & Treatment (Stage: Waste/Recovery/After-use)

    Sanitary and combined sewers collect flows through gravity or lift stations, delivering them to WWTPs for primary/secondary/tertiary treatment before discharge or reuse under NPDES permits.
    Representative assets: sewer networks, lift stations, WWTPs, outfalls, water reuse systems.

    I'm seeking input specifically on:

    • Whether these stages and steps accurately reflect functional/operational reality in the Water/Wastewater Systems domain

    • Any missing or miscategorized stages or steps that should be represented

    • Any additional assets or categories of assets that should be included

    If you have expertise in water/wastewater operations, civil/environmental engineering, SCADA/automation, regulatory compliance, or resilience planning your insights would be extremely valuable.

    Thank you in advance for any suggestions or critique. The intention is to ensure that this ontology is not only technically accurate but meaningfully reflects the lived operational structure of the sector.



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    Jesse Osborne
    Data Scientist
    Maryland, USA
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  • 2.  RE: Request for Expert Feedback: Cross-Sector Supply Chain Ontology for infrastructure

    Posted 5 days ago
    The major formula of design pipe line flow is a1v1=a2v2 =q from which velocity of flow needs area should be low or in other words if quantity is required more area should be much for the request quantity value. This is similar to electrical circuits and complex the pressure in pipe matters break down determined thickness of pipe. Pressure relief valves chamber etc are the elements of that infrastructure. 
    FCEng Alex Thomas MASCE PE 

    Thanks & Best Regards,
    Alex Thomas BSc, C.Eng(I)
    FIE(I) REng M.ASCE



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Request for Expert Feedback: Cross-Sector Supply Chain Ontology for infrastructure

    Posted 23 hours ago
    Edited by Jesse Osborne 22 hours ago

    Thanks for the response Alex but I am not interested in the formulas for how water might flow through its assets, but rather if the assets that I've identified above (e.g., intake structures, water quality labs, high-service pumps, etc.) and the categories of supply chain stages/steps are accurate and complete. I appreciate the details you've provided, but in my modeling, this level of detail is abstracted away. I am examining and modeling concepts at a "systems of systems" level and want to make sure that the ontology is not missing any key assets, stages or steps.



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    Jesse Osborne
    MD, USA
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    Original Message


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