A Cloud Toolkit for the Assessment of Invasive Species in Pressurized Irrigation Networks

The colonization of pressurized irrigation networks by zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) poses a serious risk to water delivery, reducing pipeline capacity and potentially causing complete blockages. Despite the critical need for early detection and effective management, existing methods often rely on costly, time-consuming field inspections or indirect indicators with limited accuracy. To address this gap, we present SIMZEBRA, a cloud-based toolkit that assesses invasions using hydraulic monitoring and simulation. The tool employs the Normalized Pressure Method, comparing real-time pressure data from transducers with EPANET simulations of a mussel-free network. An optimization process adjusts friction coefficients in network segments until simulated and measured pressures align, enabling the generation of infestation maps over user-defined time periods. Compared to conventional approaches, SIMZEBRA enhances detection accuracy, reduces the reliance on physical inspections, and provides a scalable, automated solution for continuous monitoring. The tool also integrates experimental data to establish relationships between mussel density, pipeline diameter, and roughness. In the presented case study, roughness increases of up to 10 mm were detected in affected pipes, while local head losses at hydrants ranged between 9 and 11 m, depending on flow conditions. Developed in R with CPU parallelization, the toolkit operates remotely on a cloud server, ensuring fast, efficient, and cost-effective detection and management of zebra mussel infestations. This approach improves early warning capabilities and supports proactive invasive species management in pressurized irrigation networks.