Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation will extend digital twin technology to major canals nationwide after its initial use on the Ismailia Canal, aiming to improve water allocation and management through real-time monitoring and AI tools.
Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has announced plans to expand the use of digital twin technology across the country's major canal systems. The move follows the initial deployment of the technology on the Ismailia Canal, where it has been used to enhance water distribution through real-time monitoring, artificial intelligence, and drone-based data collection.
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam has directed officials to develop a comprehensive plan for rolling out the technology to other key canals, with priority given to areas facing the greatest need. The ministry stated that the expansion aims to address persistent challenges in water allocation and ensure more efficient delivery of water resources throughout Egypt's extensive irrigation network.
Ismailia Canal Pilot Informs National Rollout
The Ismailia Canal project currently covers 32 branch canals, 119 drinking-water stations, and 20 industrial facilities. The system uses real-time monitoring to track water levels and flows at critical points, including regulators and canal intakes. Data collected is used to monitor daily water consumption and withdrawals, enabling the development of smart distribution schedules based on actual demand.
Advanced cameras and drone surveys have been tested to create a digital representation of the canal, allowing for ongoing monitoring of changes over time. Telemetry systems are being expanded to provide continuous measurements and to better understand the relationship between water levels and actual flows. The pilot is designed to shift irrigation management from traditional water-level readings to direct flow measurements, while evaluating which technologies are best suited to Egypt's conditions.
Next Steps and Strategic Objectives
Minister Sewilam has called for further calibration of the Ismailia Canal model to verify the accuracy of flow measurements before broader implementation. Additional telemetry monitoring points, greater integration between government databases and digital applications, and the use of AI tools to connect field measurements with irrigation departments are also being pursued.
This initiative forms part of the ministry's "Water 2.0" programme, which seeks to leverage digital technologies and decision-support systems to improve the management of Egypt's limited water resources. The expansion of digital twin technology is expected to support more efficient water allocation, reduce losses, and help ensure that supplies reach the ends of the irrigation network.
