Engineering Fluid Dynamic Systems for Diagnostic Study
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Hoda Mehrpouyan, Boise State University; Oliver MacDonald, Boise State University; and Afsana Afrin, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology
Presentation Date
7-15-2026
Abstract
As municipal water distribution systems become increasingly automated and interconnected, reliable methods for testing, diagnostics, and operator training are becoming increasingly important prior to modifying live systems. The objective of this project is to develop a scalable laboratory testbed that replicates the behavior of a municipal drinking water distribution system while enabling safe experimentation and data collection.This system integrates flow meters, pumps, solenoids, programmable logic devices, and control software developed in Python and C++ to communicate through industrial Modbus protocols, providing real-time monitoring of pressure, flow, and state transitions. Safe failure scenarios are pre-built into the system to enable non-harmful failure-point testing. A single well-site prototype is already operational, producing diagnostic data with real fluid testing functionality isolated from any public system. Issues ranging from software compatibility and equipment capability to fluid dynamic unpredictability have been documented and resolved, demonstrating the system's capacity to address real infrastructure challenges rather than purely simulated outcomes. The immediate roadmap expands to multiple interconnected sites replicating a full-scale system, with an operator interface for researchers to modify flow settings and access live and historical data. Future development will incorporate additional automation, expanded fault libraries, and further data collection methods. The resulting platform provides a reproducible environment for research, education, and workforce training while supporting future studies in water-system monitoring, diagnostics, and infrastructure resilience, a need already confirmed by external researchers who have already expressed interest in the project’s diagnostic capabilities prior to the system's completion.
Engineering Fluid Dynamic Systems for Diagnostic Study
As municipal water distribution systems become increasingly automated and interconnected, reliable methods for testing, diagnostics, and operator training are becoming increasingly important prior to modifying live systems. The objective of this project is to develop a scalable laboratory testbed that replicates the behavior of a municipal drinking water distribution system while enabling safe experimentation and data collection.This system integrates flow meters, pumps, solenoids, programmable logic devices, and control software developed in Python and C++ to communicate through industrial Modbus protocols, providing real-time monitoring of pressure, flow, and state transitions. Safe failure scenarios are pre-built into the system to enable non-harmful failure-point testing. A single well-site prototype is already operational, producing diagnostic data with real fluid testing functionality isolated from any public system. Issues ranging from software compatibility and equipment capability to fluid dynamic unpredictability have been documented and resolved, demonstrating the system's capacity to address real infrastructure challenges rather than purely simulated outcomes. The immediate roadmap expands to multiple interconnected sites replicating a full-scale system, with an operator interface for researchers to modify flow settings and access live and historical data. Future development will incorporate additional automation, expanded fault libraries, and further data collection methods. The resulting platform provides a reproducible environment for research, education, and workforce training while supporting future studies in water-system monitoring, diagnostics, and infrastructure resilience, a need already confirmed by external researchers who have already expressed interest in the project’s diagnostic capabilities prior to the system's completion.