Optimatics
Overview
Optimatics is a specialized software and consulting company that focuses on
optimization technology for water and wastewater infrastructure planning.
The company is best known for developing advanced decision-support software
that helps water utilities, municipalities, and engineering firms make more
cost-effective and efficient decisions about the design, expansion, and
rehabilitation of their infrastructure networks. By combining mathematical
optimization algorithms with hydraulic modeling, Optimatics enables its
clients to evaluate an enormous number of possible infrastructure solutions
and identify the ones that deliver the best performance at the lowest cost.
Optimatics has a long history in the water sector and has worked with utilities
and consulting engineers across multiple regions, including North America and
Australia. The company positions itself at the intersection of engineering,
data science, and optimization, providing tools and expertise that go beyond
traditional trial-and-error planning approaches.
Continue…What the Company Does
At its core, Optimatics applies optimization science to some of the most
complex and capital-intensive challenges faced by water and wastewater
utilities. Infrastructure planning decisions—such as which pipes to upgrade,
where to add pumps or storage, and how to phase capital projects over time—
often involve millions of possible combinations. Traditional engineering
methods evaluate only a handful of scenarios, which can lead to suboptimal
and unnecessarily expensive outcomes.
Optimatics addresses this problem by using automated optimization engines
that systematically search through vast solution spaces. The software integrates
with existing hydraulic and hydrologic models, then uses evolutionary and
heuristic optimization algorithms to identify the most cost-effective
combinations of infrastructure improvements while still meeting performance,
regulatory, and level-of-service requirements.
This approach allows engineers and planners to:
- Reduce capital and operational expenditure on infrastructure projects
- Meet water quality, pressure, and reliability standards more efficiently
- Compare a wide range of alternatives quickly and objectively
- Support long-term master planning and capital improvement programs
Core Product: Optimizer
Optimatics' flagship offering is its optimization platform, commonly referred
to as Optimizer. This software is designed to work alongside industry-standard
hydraulic modeling tools used by water utilities and engineering consultants.
Rather than replacing existing models, Optimizer enhances them by adding a
powerful optimization layer on top of the models the client already trusts.
Key capabilities of the Optimizer platform include:
- Integration with widely used hydraulic and hydrologic modeling software
- Automated evaluation of thousands or millions of infrastructure scenarios
- Multi-objective optimization that balances cost against performance
- Support for water distribution, wastewater collection, and stormwater systems
- Identification of least-cost solutions that satisfy all specified constraints
By automating the search for optimal solutions, the platform helps engineers
avoid the limitations of manual scenario testing and enables data-driven
capital planning.
Applications and Use Cases
Optimatics' technology is applied across a broad range of water infrastructure
challenges. Typical use cases include:
- Water distribution system planning and optimization, including pipe sizing,
pumping, and storage decisions
- Wastewater and sewer collection system planning, including capacity upgrades
and overflow reduction strategies
- Stormwater and drainage system design to manage flooding and meet regulatory
requirements
- Rehabilitation and renewal planning for aging infrastructure
- Capital improvement program development and prioritization
- Energy optimization for pumping and operational cost reduction
These applications are particularly valuable for utilities facing tight budgets,
aging assets, population growth, regulatory pressure, and the need to plan for
long-term resilience.
Services
In addition to its software products, Optimatics offers professional services
that combine its optimization technology with domain expertise. These services
are designed to help clients get the most value from optimization, especially
on large or complex projects. Service offerings typically include:
- Optimization consulting and project delivery, where Optimatics' specialists
run optimization studies on behalf of clients
- Model integration and setup assistance to connect optimization tools with
existing hydraulic models
- Training and support to help engineering teams adopt optimization methods
- Collaborative planning support for master planning and capital program
development
This blended approach—software plus expertise—allows Optimatics to serve both
organizations that want to build in-house optimization capability and those
that prefer to have studies delivered as a service.
Value Proposition
The central value that Optimatics delivers is significant cost savings on
infrastructure investment while maintaining or improving system performance.
Water and wastewater infrastructure represents some of the largest capital
expenditures for municipalities and utilities, and even modest percentage
savings can translate into millions of dollars. By systematically exploring
the full range of engineering possibilities, Optimatics helps clients:
- Lower the cost of infrastructure projects
- Justify and defend capital decisions with data-driven analysis
- Improve compliance with regulatory and level-of-service standards
- Extend the value of existing hydraulic models and engineering investments
- Make more confident, transparent, and repeatable planning decisions
Who Uses Optimatics
The company's clients typically include:
- Municipal and regional water utilities
- Wastewater and stormwater authorities
- Engineering and consulting firms serving the water sector
- Public sector agencies responsible for water infrastructure
These organizations rely on Optimatics to bring rigor and efficiency to
high-stakes infrastructure decisions.
Summary
Optimatics is a company built around the idea that advanced optimization can
transform the way water and wastewater infrastructure is planned and delivered.
Through its optimization software and specialized consulting services, it helps
utilities and engineers evaluate vast numbers of possible solutions, reduce
capital and operating costs, and meet performance and regulatory requirements.
By pairing proven hydraulic modeling with powerful optimization algorithms,
Optimatics enables smarter, more cost-effective infrastructure planning for the
water sector.