Spain has been suffering from a lack of rainfall for years. Water reserves are well below the average of the past five years, and water levels are expected to remain low in 2023. But is there any technology that can help improve this disastrous situation? Not just one, but experts combine the potential of several. Combating drought in some ways is possible thanks to the combined use of brilliant innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Artificial intelligence and digitization curb drought
Water scarcity cannot be solved by one technology alone; there are multiple approaches, such as the use of neural networks or algorithms, that can bring broad benefits to water resource management. Combining artificial intelligence and digitalization to combat drought Positive results have been achieved in addressing the impacts of climate change.
For example, in China, they use artificial intelligence to solve water shortages. Using satellites and mobile radar stations, they aim to predict the movement of moist air to improve conditions in provinces along the Yangtze River.
Another outstanding project to alleviate this problem is WWTP 360, an idea developed by the Galician Institute of Technology (ITC) and the Cetaqua Galicia Research Center. Its goal is to design technological alternatives to guarantee efficient sanitation management and digitize wastewater treatment processes and water cycles.They use artificial intelligence and Deep Learning Creates Automated Systems and Predictive Data Models Improve supply and sanitation services.
Another example from Spain is the use of artificial intelligence, supported by real-time satellite information, to improve reservoir management. The project is in beta and has been promoted by the University of Córdoba.
Using drones to ‘seed clouds’
Also in China, after suffering one of the longest and worst droughts on record in 2022, they turned to a technique called “cloud seeding.” This involves using a combination of chemicals rocketed into the sky to artificially trigger rain. recent, The Asian country has also been using drones Drop the (small amount of) silver iodide used to produce this rain.
Drones are also being used in the Dubai desert To achieve the same effect, but in a different way. In this case, the National Meteorological Center of the United Arab Emirates used these small, autonomously flying planes to obtain cloud seeding, but instead of chemicals, they used lasers that generate an electric charge and managed to group the clouds so that they eventually ended up producing rainwater.
IoT and Big Data for Efficient Irrigation Management
The world population continues to grow and this trend will continue. This presents the challenge of feeding ever-increasing numbers of people in climate conditions that worsen each year.use here big data and internet of things Provides a range of essential elements for effective irrigation management for the agricultural sector.
In this sense, tools have been developed using both technologies, such as water traceability or the analysis of data that contributes to predictions and subsequent decision-making. There are tools designed to know the minimum amount of water needed to irrigate soil at any given time. Not only does this help in real-time monitoring of fluid usage, but it can also reveal data about possible leaks in the infrastructure, allowing for quick pinpointing of faults.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that IoT powered by 5G technology has huge potential to reduce CO2 emissions within the next decade, helping to curb global warming.
Satellites that study Earth from the sky
Space technology is another source of research data that provides important information about how climate change affects the entire planet. use of satellitessuch as the NISAR satellite, provides data on glaciers and volcanoes as well as forest quality, which is important for the fragile balance of different ecosystems.
Likewise, NASA has been collecting data on the amount of water used by specific crops for nearly 20 years. These data are collected and made available to farmers, water managers and all forestry professionals through the openET platform.
Every challenge is a new opportunity to create solutions through the application of new technologies. These are just some examples of using digitization to curb drought.
