Water-related challenges | Space4Water Portal

There is an abundance of water-related challenges to be solved to get on track with sustainable water management. To help finding space-based solutions to this abundance of issues, UNOOSA decided to feature water-related challenges. The selection of the below-presented water-related challenges have been:

observed and described by Indigenous people;
observed and described by Space4Water professionals, young professionals or stakeholders;
identified via research by UNOOSA; or
shared by affected invidviuals by reacting to UNOOSA calls for Local Perspectives & Case Studies and added to the challenges by OOSA staff.

Section

Transboundary early warning systems for reducing water-related disasters in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region

Transboundary early warning systems for reducing water-related disasters in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region

Change detection in land cover mapping using remote sensing data over prioritized hydrographic basins of Venezuela

Change detection in land cover mapping using remote sensing data over prioritized hydrographic basins of Venezuela

Honouring Andes's water heritage: bridging traditional knowledge and technology for ancestral water sources management in Quilloac, Ecuador

Honouring Andes's water heritage: bridging traditional knowledge and technology for ancestral water sources management in Quilloac, Ecuador

Water scarcity and groundwater overextraction in Jordan: a growing crisis

Photo of cracks in dry soil. Creative commons by Domininka P. https://www.pexels.com/photo/heat-27286879/

Water scarcity and groundwater overextraction in Jordan: a growing crisis

Sedimentation, reduced water quality, and ecosystem degradation threats in the catchment areas of Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria

Sedimentation, reduced water quality, and ecosystem degradation threats in the catchment areas of Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria

Mangrove forest loss in the Caribbean

Mangrove forest loss in the Caribbean

Need of geospatial analysis on further strengthening water sensitive urban planning and design to stormwater management in the Greater Colombo metropolitan area

Beddagana wetland Park in western province, outside of Colombo. Photo by Sureshkumar1213. CC.

Need of geospatial analysis on further strengthening water sensitive urban planning and design to stormwater management in the Greater Colombo metropolitan area

Social vulnerability to flooding in Bangladesh

Social vulnerability to flooding in Bangladesh

The ecohydrological trade-off in Nepal’s Middle Hills: mapping spring decline and groundwater loss in community forests through space-based solutions

Map of Sharadha Khola watershed in Nepal

The ecohydrological trade-off in Nepal’s Middle Hills: mapping spring decline and groundwater loss in community forests through space-based solutions

Regular elevation data for mass balance estimations in Patagonian glaciers

Regular elevation data for mass balance estimations in Patagonian glaciers

Space-based solutions for water scarcity in Egypt’s arid regions

Satellite image of Toshka Lakes in Egypt

Space-based solutions for water scarcity in Egypt’s arid regions

The extraction of information on groundwater for a geographically small, water-scarce and groundwater reliant region

The extraction of information on groundwater for a geographically small, water-scarce and groundwater reliant region

Data-driven irrigation demand forecasting for rotational water management under the Warabandi system

Rice Cultivation in Leepa - Photo by Srhussainpk - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40350352

Data-driven irrigation demand forecasting for rotational water management under the Warabandi system

The disappearance of Lake Ol’ Bolossat: a threat to biodiversity, livelihoods and water security in central Kenya

Screenshot of Google Earth Engine App develpoed for Lake Ol' Bolossat's Water and Habitat Monitoring

The disappearance of Lake Ol’ Bolossat: a threat to biodiversity, livelihoods and water security in central Kenya

Groundwater resource management using artificial intelligence and remote sensing technologies

Groundwater resource management using artificial intelligence and remote sensing technologies

Spatiotemporal analysis of hydrometeorological disasters in the Indian Himalayas: integrating space-based techniques for enhanced disaster resilience

Spatiotemporal analysis of hydrometeorological disasters in the Indian Himalayas: integrating space-based techniques for enhanced disaster resilience

Water quality degradation of the Bua River, Malawi

Massive storms leading to floods and landslides in Piura, Peru

Satellite image of the town of Catacaos in Venezuela

Massive storms leading to floods and landslides in Piura, Peru

Integrated water resource management for sustainable agriculture: data-driven approaches to optimize crop patterns and water use in Pakistan

Image of dry landscape and solar panels in the distance

Integrated water resource management for sustainable agriculture: data-driven approaches to optimize crop patterns and water use in Pakistan

Lack of continuous qualitative and quantitative groundwater data for groundwater management within the Congo Basin

Disappearing wetlands in North Central Nigeria

Satellite image of the Kogi State Nigeria

Disappearing wetlands in North Central Nigeria

Water security: A tracking and quantifying methodology for monitoring water resources in a water scarce region

Water security: A tracking and quantifying methodology for monitoring water resources in a water scarce region

Sea-level rise and potential predictions for sinking of the Delta in Egypt

Sea-level rise and potential predictions for sinking of the Delta in Egypt

Hydrocarbon contamination of water bodies in the Niger Delta

Hydrocarbon contamination of water bodies in the Niger Delta

Satellite-based monitoring of drought and water stress across arid and semi-arid regions of West Africa

Satellite-based monitoring of drought and water stress across arid and semi-arid regions of West Africa

Small-holder farmers in northern Madagascar are disproportionately impacted by drought

Photo of a meager cow in front of a tree

Small-holder farmers in northern Madagascar are disproportionately impacted by drought

Water access on land of Maori

Water access on land of Maori

Samburu tribe lacks access to safe drinking water - Dry spells due to water scarcity

Samburu woman drinking (brownish) well water filtered through the fabric of her dress

Samburu tribe lacks access to safe drinking water - Dry spells due to water scarcity

Potential consequences due to the melting Athabasca glacier, Canada

Potential consequences due to the melting Athabasca glacier, Canada

Water shortages and quality issues for domestic use in Platfontein South Africa

Water shortages and quality issues for domestic use in Platfontein South Africa

Soil conditions in Platfontein, South Africa

Soil conditions in Platfontein, South Africa

Lacking historic knowledge on vegetation cover and surface water extent / river course

Long view of Ngakoahia Stream and surrounding vegetation

Lacking historic knowledge on vegetation cover and surface water extent / river course

Safe drinking water is lacking in the Kaqchikel community

Kaqchikel woman using water supplied by the municipality

Safe drinking water is lacking in the Kaqchikel community

Need for technical assistance to identify new water sources such as springs within the forest, in Guatemala

DDASO project team using drones to identify water sources

Need for technical assistance to identify new water sources such as springs within the forest, in Guatemala

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Transboundary early warning systems for reducing water-related disasters in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region

Change detection in land cover mapping using remote sensing data over prioritized hydrographic basins of Venezuela

Honouring Andes's water heritage: bridging traditional knowledge and technology for ancestral water sources management in Quilloac, Ecuador

Water scarcity and groundwater overextraction in Jordan: a growing crisis

Sedimentation, reduced water quality, and ecosystem degradation threats in the catchment areas of Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria

Mangrove forest loss in the Caribbean

Need of geospatial analysis on further strengthening water sensitive urban planning and design to stormwater management in the Greater Colombo metropolitan area

Social vulnerability to flooding in Bangladesh

The ecohydrological trade-off in Nepal’s Middle Hills: mapping spring decline and groundwater loss in community forests through space-based solutions

Regular elevation data for mass balance estimations in Patagonian glaciers

Space-based solutions for water scarcity in Egypt’s arid regions

The extraction of information on groundwater for a geographically small, water-scarce and groundwater reliant region

Data-driven irrigation demand forecasting for rotational water management under the Warabandi system

The disappearance of Lake Ol’ Bolossat: a threat to biodiversity, livelihoods and water security in central Kenya

Groundwater resource management using artificial intelligence and remote sensing technologies

Spatiotemporal analysis of hydrometeorological disasters in the Indian Himalayas: integrating space-based techniques for enhanced disaster resilience

Water quality degradation of the Bua River, Malawi

Massive storms leading to floods and landslides in Piura, Peru

Integrated water resource management for sustainable agriculture: data-driven approaches to optimize crop patterns and water use in Pakistan

Lack of continuous qualitative and quantitative groundwater data for groundwater management within the Congo Basin

Disappearing wetlands in North Central Nigeria

Water security: A tracking and quantifying methodology for monitoring water resources in a water scarce region

Sea-level rise and potential predictions for sinking of the Delta in Egypt

Hydrocarbon contamination of water bodies in the Niger Delta

Satellite-based monitoring of drought and water stress across arid and semi-arid regions of West Africa

Small-holder farmers in northern Madagascar are disproportionately impacted by drought

picture showing various floods in Saint Lucia

Identifying suitable sites for emergency shelters

Photo of a cenote in Merida Yucatan, CC license

Decline in Groundwater levels and quality

Water access on land of Maori

Samburu tribe lacks access to safe drinking water - Dry spells due to water scarcity

Potential consequences due to the melting Athabasca glacier, Canada

Water shortages and quality issues for domestic use in Platfontein South Africa

Soil conditions in Platfontein, South Africa

Lacking historic knowledge on vegetation cover and surface water extent / river course

Shallow end of Ngakoahia Stream with old pedestrian bridge

Ngakoaohia River Pollution in New Zealand

Safe drinking water is lacking in the Kaqchikel community

Need for technical assistance to identify new water sources such as springs within the forest, in Guatemala

Dirty Snow NASA Image- Credit: T. H. Painter_Snow Optics Laboratory, JPL/Caltech

Need for data on snow quality which is assumed to be affected by runoff and emissions from industrial use

Need for water quality data to monitor effects of mining and industrial use of water near Lake Athabasca, Canada

A person standing in front of a small water dam

The effects of land use and land cover changes on water use and management

Need for wetlands inventory

Need for data on ice quality - to monitor ice thickness for security

Participatory Workshop for Indigenous Women - Group Photo

Lack of Indigenous (and/or cultural) and scientific knowledge exchange

Damages in the flood-affected areas in the Sindh province after a monsoon season in Pakistan. U.S. Marines with the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 Reinforced (HMM-165 REIN), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU) and the Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 266 Reinforced (VMM-266 REIN), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU) assist the Pakistan Army with humanitarian assistance operations, Oct. 22, 2010.