Multi-Agent Approach to Biofilm Development in Water Supply Systems

Abstract

[EN] The presence of regulated quantities of residual disinfectant is a usual feature in water supply systems (WSSs); nevertheless, biofilm formation persists in all of them, representing a paradigm in WSSs management due to the numerous undesirable problems associated. This study attempts to create a biofilm model based on a limited number of basic interactions between bacteria and the hydraulic and physical characteristics of the pipes by the step-wise evolution of biofilm over time. Multi-Agent Systems (MASs) are used as a modelling tool to achieve this purpose, arising as an excellent starting point for further researches. A MAS consists of a population of autonomous entities (agents, biofilm bacteria in this case) situated in a shared structured framework (environment, pipes in this case). These agents operate independently but also are able to interact with their environment, coordinating themselves with other agents. By obtaining a MAS based biofilm model, it will be possible to achieve a better understanding on any situation of interest because different research scenarios could be simulated allowing to check the hypotheses on their mechanisms and to predict how biofilm evolves in WSSs.