The Dutch water sector is facing an enormous challenge. Whether it concerns strengthening dikes, renovating pumping stations, or large-scale sewer replacements, the renewal task is massive. Water authorities and drinking water companies will have to deliver much more work in the coming years, often with the same number of people.

How to achieve more with less

The only way to achieve this is by working more efficiently. That’s why many organizations invest in an Object Type Library (OTL) also known as Reference Data Library (RDL): a digital dictionary that defines exactly what an asset is and which data belongs to it. However, in engineering and design practices (CAD), a different standard is often used, such as the Dutch CAD Standard (NLCS). The result? A time-consuming translation step between “the data we manage” (OTL) and “the drawing we create” (NLCS). This can be done smarter. The solution: connect them.

Let’s make this concrete with a recognizable example: a manhole. The Use Case: suppose you want to design and register a new manhole.

• In your OTL: Here, the manhole is clearly defined as a functional object. It has a unique ID, a material type, and relationships with the pipeline system. This is crucial for your asset management.
• In the NLCS: The NLCS (which will soon be specifically tailored to the water sector) determines on which layer a manhole should be placed and which line color, line thickness, and hatching should be used.
• Connecting them: By linking the “OTL manhole” in your data environment to the “NLCS manhole”, you accelerate the design process and promote standardization.

What does this deliver?

When an engineer or contractor works in CAD software, they can classify via the NLCS towards your organization-specific OTL. They select “Manhole Type A” in their CAD software.

• Because the manhole classes are linked, the software immediately knows: “This concept belongs to this NLCS class, so these line thicknesses, layers, and colors must be applied.”
• At the same time, the software knows through the mapping: “This is an asset from the OTL, so these data attributes are required.”

This way of working offers direct benefits for your renewal program:

• Faster design process: Using the NLCS in combination with an OTL ensures standardization, making the design process more efficient.
• Higher data quality: The drawing is visually correct (according to NLCS) and directly contains the right data (according to the OTL). No more discussions afterward about wrong layers or missing attributes.
• Scalability: By aligning with market standards such as NLCS, it becomes easier for contractors and everyone producing CAD drawings to deliver standardized drawings.

Conclusion

Digitalization in the water sector is not just about collecting data, but about connecting it. By mapping your OTL to standards such as the NLCS, you build a bridge between asset management and engineering/realization. In this way, you transform your OTL from a static reference document into an active engine for your renewal program.

How Can Semmtech Help?

The theory of data connections sounds great, but implementation requires expertise. Semmtech helps build these bridges. We support water authorities and drinking water companies not only in setting up and managing an OTL, but especially in connecting it with market standards such as the NLCS. We ensure that your “internal truth” technically and conceptually aligns with market standards. Reach out to us!