Finding ways to keep the water flowing

The ministry is accelerating the construction of digital twins for river basin and water resource management projects. What is the current progress of these projects?

Digital technology is increasingly becoming a driving force in innovative development. Based on the demand for the development of water resource governance, the ministry has proposed accelerating the creation of digital twin projects, and progress has been made in three aspects.

First, the ministry has issued a series of top-level design documents, clarifying the goals, tasks and layout of river basin digital twins. By 2025, key areas along major rivers, lakes and their main tributaries are slated to complete the creation of the digital twins.

Second, pilot projects are being promoted. The construction of digital twin river basin is a complex and systematic project. The ministry identified 94 priority tasks across the country to begin work on last year.

Third, the ministry has endeavored to support water management businesses in realizing the four functions of forecasting, early warning, simulation and contingency planning with the help of digital technology.

The ministry will coordinate the creation of digital twins for river basins, water supply networks and water resource engineering. By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), it is slated to create a digital twin system that encompasses the four functions previously mentioned.