Cairo: Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam affirmed that digital transformation is a key pillar in developing the water management system through expanding the use of technology in monitoring, managing, and distributing water.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Sewilam said this would help provide accurate and up-to-date data to enhance the efficiency of water resources management and improve planning, operation, and maintenance across the water system. Sewilam made the remarks during a meeting with a number of senior ministry officials to follow up on the ministry's digital transformation efforts and the status of the 'Digital Twin Application Project for the Ismailia Canal and its Branches,' as part of the targets of the Second Generation of the Water System (2.0).
The minister stated that the ministry is working to develop an integrated system based on the latest digital technologies in water management, while expanding the application of digital twins as one of the advanced applications of digital transformation. He explained that digital twins enable the creation of a digital model that simulates the water system and links the model to real-time data collected through the telemetry network deployed nationwide. This allows the operational status of the system to be monitored and its performance analyzed, supporting proactive measures and decision-making related to operation and maintenance, as well as enhancing efficiency.
Sewilam added that the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is working to establish a smart management system that links the ministry's sectors in real time to improve field monitoring and ensure immediate monitoring of the condition of waterways. The system will also be linked to the ministry's operational plan, facilitating the integration of databases and information available from various sectors and affiliated entities and connecting them to modern digital systems. This will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the water system's status and support faster and more accurate decision-making.
Regarding the development of the digital system for the Ismailia Canal and its branches, Sewilam directed the Irrigation Department to swiftly complete the installation of water-level measuring gauges and telemetry devices at a number of locations along the Ismailia Canal and its branches. The minister also instructed the Irrigation Department to begin the pilot operation of the digital twin model for the Ismailia Canal and use it for the daily management and distribution of water along the canal and its branches. This, he said, would help accelerate and improve the accuracy of the system's operations and pave the way for expanding its application in the near future.