Interpretable Process Monitoring Using Data-Driven Fuzzy-Based Models for Wastewater Treatment Plants

Rodrigo Salles, Miguel Proença, Rui Araújo, Jorge S. S. Júnior and Jérôme Mendes ()
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Rodrigo Salles: Institute of Systems and Robotics (ISR-UC), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal
Miguel Proença: Institute of Systems and Robotics (ISR-UC), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal
Rui Araújo: Institute of Systems and Robotics (ISR-UC), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal
Jorge S. S. Júnior: Institute of Systems and Robotics (ISR-UC), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal
Jérôme Mendes: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal

Mathematics, 2025, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-22

Abstract: Digital transformation of industry has gained emphasis in recent years in academia and industry. Organizations need to be more competitive and efficient and improve their processes and performance to cope with changes in environmental legislation, efficient management of resources and energy, and the trend toward zero waste. These factors have led to the emergence of a new concept. This paper studies data-driven fuzzy-based models for process monitoring focused on Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). This work aims to study interpretable industrial process monitoring models, which must be easily interpretable by expert process operators. For this purpose, different fuzzy-based models were studied. Exhaustive validations are performed. The studied models employ 16 key variables at 14 different points throughout the waterline of a treatment plant. The learning and testing of each model for every key variable at each involved point use distinct sets of input variables and varied learning model parameters. The impact of the selected input variables and the learning parameters on the model accuracy, and the accuracy versus interpretability tradeoff are analyzed. The best model for each key variable is developed based on the accuracy versus interpretability tradeoff.

Keywords: process monitoring; fuzzy systems; WWTP; data-driven models; interpretable models; fuzzy systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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