pk-china-user A Pakistani student studying Artificial Intelligence at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST) secured Third Prize among six finalists and received the honorary title of “River Messenger” at the 5th International Youth River Exchange, held on September 29 in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. During the event, he highlighted the potential of AI in promoting sustainable river and irrigation management.
Guided by the Global Network of Water Museums, hosted by the National Water Museum of China, and organized by the Ningbo Museum of World Heritage Irrigation Structures, the event brought together young student representatives from China, South Africa, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan and other countries. The participants engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges focusing on the theme of “River and Irrigation.”
Over the past five years, the event has encouraged university students to examine the close relationship between river ecology, water civilization, and regional social, economic and cultural development, while promoting water conservation and the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and water.
Pakistani student Azib Ali Buraq, inspired by the Yangtze River, which has become an integral part of his student life in Nanjing, delivered a presentation titled “The River That Shaped Us.” His presentation examined the historical and economic importance of rivers and irrigation systems, while also introducing an AI-driven approach to modern water management.
A key element of his presentation was a proposed AI-integrated Yangtze River–Irrigation Management Model based on Digital Twin technology. The framework would bring together data from satellites, weather forecasts, environmental sensors, soil conditions, river conditions, reservoir levels and water demand within a unified digital system. AI could then analyze this data to support forecasting, simulation and decision-making for irrigation, reservoir operations, water supply and ecosystem protection.
Azib described the model through the sequence: “Sense → Predict → Simulate → Coordinate → Act → Learn.” Through this concept, he demonstrated how AI could potentially assist authorities and stakeholders in assessing different water management scenarios, including variations in rainfall, agricultural water requirements and reservoir levels, thereby supporting more informed and coordinated decisions.
As part of the program, participants also carried out an on-site inspection of the Tuoshan Weir, a World Heritage Irrigation Structure, gaining firsthand insight into traditional water management practices and the cultural heritage of the millennium-old engineering achievement. For Azib, the visit offered an opportunity to explore how emerging technologies could complement, rather than replace, traditional engineering knowledge. He said the experience further strengthened his interest in investigating practical applications of AI to address complex global challenges.
