Artificial Intelligence - Based Water Management

The study of artificial intelligence began in 1956 when the term ‘Artificial Intelligence’, (AI) was first used at a meeting held in Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, a broad discipline, was developed based on the collaboration of several kinds of fields such as cybernetics, computer science, information theory, psychology, neurophysiology, and linguistics. AI is a branch of computer science that involves the research, design, and application of intelligent computers.

The main objective of AI is to learn and explore how to emulate and execute some of the intelligent functions of the human brain, which can further help to develop technology products and establish relevant theories. Some of the key theories of AI are summarized as symbolism, behaviorism, and connectionism approach. Since the first appearance of AI in the 1950s, a lot of hopes and dreams have been built.

Let us dive into the latest progress of AI technology in all aspects of Civil Engineering.

Optimization of Artificial Intelligence in Civil Engineering

AI is a science that is based on the research and application of the law of the activities of human intelligence. After almost 50 years of progress, it has become a far-reaching cross-frontier subject. Since then, machine learning technologies have been successfully applied in various sectors, especially in Civil Engineering. In the civil engineering sector, many problems, mostly in engineering design, construction management, and program decision making, were governed by many uncertainties which could be solved not just with mathematical and mechanical calculations but also depending on the experience of the practitioners. It is difficult to solve these problems with the application of traditional methods. Artificial Intelligence applications, however, have their own superiority. It can tackle complex problems to the level of experts by imitating experts. Overall, AI is playing a crucial role in civil engineering in the direction of digitization and intelligence, enabling significant growth in automation, performance, and reliability. Governments around the globe, as well as the world’s technology leaders, are investing more effort in AI deployment to obtain a competitive advantage. For example, the UK government recently signed an agreement that will help them put their country at the forefront of the AI industry by investing an additional € 1.8 billion.

In recent years, AI applications have found a wide range of applications in civil engineering and other engineering branches. This rapid growth in AI research indicates that AI will become more prevalent in engineering fields in the years to come. The study of AI has especially increased in the fields of structural engineering, construction management, hydrology, hydraulic engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, transportation engineering, coastal and ocean engineering.

However, given water is an essential component of life that has long been polluted and in limited supply and climate change is a reality that will aggravate water stress in many areas. This would result in a massive water catastrophe that we are not prepared to handle. Let us take a look at how AI in water management in India can come off as a huge revelation.

Role of AI in Water Management System:

Because of the complexity and diversity of the domains involved, an engineer in charge of the design of a major hydraulic project may feel apprehensive. As a result, the engineer must rely on experts in each sector and forfeits some control for the project's development. Furthermore, as a result of recent advances in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), the engineer now has access to an increasing number of specialized and simple-to-use mathematical models.

AI can make the process of water management systems much easier with the help of data analytics, regression models, and algorithms. These cutting-edge technologies can build efficient water systems. Water managers and government agencies may utilise AI to create a smart water system that can provide efficient water infrastructure and adapt to changing conditions. These technologies will be cost-effective and long-lasting, allowing for the optimization of all water management solutions as well as the prediction of possible harm.

An example can help demonstrate the numerous intelligent aspects utilized to develop the current generation of the knowledge base, as well as the type of support in addressing issues in the field of applied hydraulics.