Adaptation through Water 2025

Project brief: Some 245 million people live in the Mekong River Basin, the broad area served by Southeast Asia’s longest river. In recent years, the basin has suffered more frequent droughts and erratic rainfall. These patterns, along with inefficient water use, affect agriculture, food security and reservoir management. In 2014, with $11.2 million in funding, the US Government and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), a regional organization specializing in building disaster and climate resilience, launched SERVIR-Mekong to help governments, farmers and water managers throughout the basin optimize irrigation and water resource planning. The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), US Agency for International Development (USAID), NASA, the Mekong River Commission, local Vietnamese governments and the Stockholm Environment Institute partnered with the Spatial Informatics Group and Deltares to develop the system, which leverages satellite data, geospatial analytics and AI-powered forecasting. Specifically, the SERVIR-Mekong AI system uses an array of technologies, including smart water metres with IoT-based monitoring, AI-driven hydrological forecasting models for drought and flood prediction, and cloud-based decision support tools. Since its implementation (finalized in 2022), the system has aided more than 60,000 households in Viet Nam’s Ninh Thuan province by improving irrigation efficiency and reducing water loss. It has improved flood risk management for the millions of people residing in the region. By integrating AI- based analytics into national water strategies, the project has enabled cross-border water coordination among the countries within the Lower Mekong Region, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. Why is this case innovative? –It is the first large-scale, AI-powered water management initiative in Southeast Asia. It combines AI, satellite imagery and hydrological modelling. –The project uses decentralized, cloud-based decision support tools that local governments, NGOs and water managers can access. –The project is a prime example of a public-private- research organization collaboration. How is this example relevant to Southeast Asia’s water adaptation challenges? –This approach can be replicated in Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, where precision irrigation can bolster food security. –It demonstrates how AI and geospatial tools can improve regional water governance. –It provides a framework for integrating AI and satellite data into national drought policy development. What opportunities does this illustrate for the private sector? –Providers can expand AI-powered crop yield forecasting and water efficiency systems. –Real-time hydrological data collection and IoT-based sensors can be scaled-up for more widespread use. –AI-driven weather-based insurance models would be a boon to small farms. Source: SERVIR Southeast Asia.22CASE STUDY 4 SERVIR-Mekong AI system: a high-tech, decentralized approach to water resource optimization Adaptation through Water: Mobilizing the Private Sector for Climate Adaptation in Southeast Asia 22