Apparatus for forecasting water demand

1. An apparatus for estimating water demand, the apparatus comprising:

an estimation unit configured to obtain a preset value input by a user;

a control unit configured to:

obtain record data in response to a user request;

set a limit value range of the obtained record data having an upper limit and a lower limit;

compare a value of the obtained record data with the upper limit and lower limit in order to extract normal data from the obtained record data within the set limit value range;

set the extracted normal data as water demand estimation data;

perform a learning process on each of a plurality of algorithm combination groups including at least one algorithm in order to select one of the plurality of algorithm combination groups; and

calculate water demand estimation data by inputting the obtained record data and preset value to the selected one of the plurality of algorithm combination groups;

a storage unit configured to store the obtained record data, the obtained preset value, and the calculated water demand estimation data; and

an output unit configured to output the calculated water demand estimation data,

wherein the control unit is further configured to:

divide the obtained record data into a plurality of periods;

estimate water demand of each of the plurality of periods; and

estimate final water demand by combining the estimated water demand of each of the plurality of periods.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes:

a data collecting unit configured to obtain the record data from a SCADA system;

a data processing unit configured to set the limit value range, to compare the value of the obtained record data with the upper limit and the lower limit and extract the normal data, and to set the extracted normal data as the water demand estimation data;

a combining unit configured to generate the plurality of algorithm combination groups and select the one of the plurality of algorithm combination groups; and

a calculating unit configured to calculate the water demand estimation data.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the combining unit is further configured to:

set a number of algorithms to be included in at least one of the plurality of algorithm combination groups;

perform the learning process on each of the plurality of algorithm combination groups including algorithms combined according to the set number; and

extract one of the plurality of algorithm combination groups.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the combining unit is further configured to:

assign a weighted value of each of the algorithms according to the learning process; and

extract an algorithm combination having an uppermost weight value or an algorithm combination having a smallest error value with respect to reference estimation data.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the control unit further includes a verifying unit configured to verify the calculated water demand estimation data.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the control unit further includes:

a compensating unit configured to assign a weighted value to the calculated water demand estimation data within a threshold range period from a current time; and

compensate an error related to hourly estimation result data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the storage unit includes:

a record storage unit configured to store obtained data;

a setting storage unit configured to store obtained preset value; and

an estimation data storage unit configured to store the calculated water demand estimation data.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the control unit obtains the data periodically from a SCADA server or periodically obtains data collected in real time as the record data.