Theme 5
Business Models and Engaged Communities
Developing new business models, investment strategies, and participatory incentive structures to transform how water services are provided; research community benefits, trust, and engagement, facilitating a future where citizens and businesses have greater stakes and responsibilities in water resource management.
About the Project
Theme 5 focuses on developing innovative business models, pricing strategies and incentive frameworks enabled by IoT technologies to transform the way water services are delivered and valued. This includes exploring new approaches to water service provision, understanding how price signals influence consumer behaviour and identifying how industry and households can jointly contribute to wastewater and stormwater management. By analysing how data affects consumer engagement and decision-making, this theme helps uncover the institutional and market conditions that support or hinder the adoption of IoT-enabled water solutions.
The theme also evaluates the wider social, environmental and economic benefits of IoT for water systems. Through lifecycle assessments and comparative analysis of real-time control versus traditional practices, it aims to quantify the full value, cost savings and ecosystem benefits generated by smarter water management. A key component is understanding how IoT can build community trust, improve public involvement and strengthen wellbeing by empowering citizens with transparent, accessible and meaningful water information. Case studies supported by digital twin and visualisation tools provide a real-world testbed to explore motivations, barriers and opportunities for deeper community engagement.
Project Objectives
Innovative Business Models
Explore new IoT-enabled business models for water services, improving efficiency, flexibility and value for both utilities and customers.
Behaviour-Informed Decision Making
Assess how price signals, usage data and digital insights influence consumer choices to support smarter, more sustainable water use.
Stronger Community Engagement
Use IoT tools to improve transparency, build trust and empower citizens to participate in water management and stewardship.
Quantifying Social & Environmental Value
Evaluate the social, environmental and economic benefits of real-time control and digital water solutions to guide investment and planning.
Evidence-Based Investment Planning
Compare lifecycle costs and benefits of IoT-enabled approaches with traditional systems to support clearer, data-driven investment decisions.
Citizen-Centred IoT Water Systems
Investigate how IoT technologies influence trust, wellbeing, advocacy and participation, enabling more inclusive and resilient water governance.
Key Milestones
No milestones available
Meet Our Visionary Team
Prof Tim Fletcher
LOC Chair & UoM Node Lead
Tim Fletcher has expertise in stormwater quality, treatment and impacts, having written over 250 publications on the topic. His research focus has included modelling stormwater flows, quality and the ...
Assoc Prof Avril Horne
Associate Professor, Department of Infrastructure Engineering at UoM
Dr Avril Horne is a water policy specialist, with a rare combination of experience across economics, hydrology and policy. With twenty years' experience across a range of interdisciplinary projects, s...