Water talk: role of AI and big data in shaping West Africa's water future
Virtual Event, 10/10/2024
West Africa requires effective water management to enable resilient economic growth, shared prosperity, sustainable development, social stability and lasting peace. The region faces critical water challenges that undermine other economic sectors due to significant variability in water availability, which is exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. Traditional methods have shown limitations in addressing the complexities of modern water management challenges. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (Al) and Big Data could provide new avenues for water resource management.
Al and Big Data are powerful tools that can generate timely information and useful insights on water resources across various scales and for informed decision making. Nevertheless, the successful implementation of Al and Big Data in water resource management in West Africa presents challenges and opportunities. Few of the common challenges include data quality, reliable electricity supply, internet outages, skilled workforce, financial constraints, legal and ethical concerns. Opportunities for implementing Al and Big Data in West Africa include the needs for early warning, real-time monitoring, improved resilience, capacity building, and institutional cooperation among others. This second WaterTalk Seminar facilitated by IWMI and ECOWAS Water Resources Management Center will explore the strategies to leverage responsible Al and Big Data as catalysts for resilient water systems in West Africa, learning from current and past projects, and setting the scene for future applications. The event will gather stakeholders to exchange knowledge, identify solutions to the challenges, and build partnerships for a water-secure future driven by Al and Big Data in West Africa.
Virginie Gillet, the FAO Land and Water division officer in charge of WaPOR team, will discuss, as a panelist, the ways in which big data and AI can fit into current and possible uses of remote sensing data. She willl focus specifically on WaPOR data.
