Today, climate change is accelerating extreme phenomena such as droughts and floods, which represents a growing challenge for water management in cities. According to the UN, by 2050, up to 1.2 billion people could be displaced by natural disasters and climate change. Of them, at least 300 million will live in coastal areas vulnerable to catastrophic floods. In this context, the need for adaptation solutions, which help mitigate the effects of these phenomena, has never been so urgent.
On the occasion of World Water Day, Arup highlights how digital tools, artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive modeling are transforming the way in which cities manage water resources. These emerging technologies are allowing to design more resilient infrastructure and adapted to climate change, anticipating risks and optimizing water management.
“Digitization and artificial intelligence are revolutionizing the way cities face the challenges of climate change. Leader in Arup Spain.
AI and digitalization for resilient water management
One of the main advances offered by digitalization is the evaluation of holistic water management. The use of aggregate data models allows multiple variables to be evaluated simultaneously, such as water storage, carbon kidnapping and benefits for biodiversity. This integral approach not only demonstrates to be more profitable, but also more effective than traditional methods to manage flood risks, thus improving long -term resilience and promoting greater sustainability in resource management.
These solutions can significantly reduce the impact of torrential rains and increase the resilience of long -term cities, ensuring that infrastructure remains effective within 50 years
On the other hand, the optimization of water quality through Machine Learning is making a significant difference in water resource management. Through the use of advanced algorithms, predictive models that anticipate pollution peaks can be developed, allowing the operations to be adjusted based on the needs in advance. This capacity not only improves efficiency in water management, but also reduces operational costs and improves its quality.
The implementation of artificial intelligence models and Bayesian optimization is also allowing to manage rainwater in new urbanizations. These tools help identify the most profitable solutions for the accumulation and reuse of water, optimizing drainage infrastructure and promoting more efficient management of water resources.
In addition, digital tools are facilitating flood analysis and cost-benefit evaluation in water management. Through integrated economic analysis, which takes into account flows and asset values, these technologies help make more informed decisions about the allocation of resources, allowing better protection of vulnerable communities against flood risks.
Finally, with regard to flood resilience, digital risk assessment tools allow to design green infrastructure and urban sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) that manage rainwater more effectively. These innovative solutions can significantly reduce the impact of torrential rains and increase the resilience of long -term cities, ensuring that infrastructure remains effective within 50 years.
