AI-Powered Water Pollution Prevention Project Launched in South-West England

Computer systems company CGI and mapping experts Ordnance Survey have launched an AI-powered pilot project in south-west England that aims to predict water pollution before it happens. The project, which is being trialled in the North Devon Biosphere Reserve, will use sensors placed in rivers and fields to build a picture of the state of local rivers, rainfall and soil. AI will then combine that data with satellite imagery of local land use to predict when the local river system is most vulnerable to things like agricultural runoff. The hope is that the project will help improve water quality at the seaside resort of Combe Martin, making it a better place for swimming. Around 50 connected sensors are being used across the catchment area, which is a 55-sq-mile protected area that includes important natural habitats, farmland and small towns. The sensors, which measure six key indicators of water health, including acidity and ammonia, will transmit real-time data to an AI system that will use it to develop predictive mechanisms to inform where pollution incidents are occurring and when they will take place. The project could clean up the seaside resort town of Combe Martin, where the quality of bathing water has long been a concern. "It's always been bumping along the bottom in terms of water quality," says Andy Bell from the North Devon Biosphere Reserve. "There is very much a fear in the community of what would happen if the bathing water status was rescinded. It would impact on the cafes, the restaurants, the B&B's… people want to come to a clean place to enjoy themselves." The AI system has already shown promising results during a test run, with CGI reporting that it was more than 90% accurate. The first phase of the AI project was a desk-based model using historic data, with CGI saying it predicted pollution events with 91.5% accuracy. Now the AI model is being unleashed 'in the wild' and the question is whether it can do the same. "We're starting very small here (in North Devon) … but the idea is very much to scale up and roll this out to different parts of the UK," said CGI's Chief Sustainability Officer Mattie Yeta.

An AI-powered pilot project has been launched in south-west England to predict water pollution before it happens. CGI and Ordnance Survey are collaborating on the project, which is being trialled in the North Devon Biosphere Reserve. Sensors placed in rivers and fields will build a picture of the state of local rivers, rainfall and soil. AI will combine that data with satellite imagery of local land use to predict when the local river system is most vulnerable to things like agricultural runoff. The project aims to improve water quality at the seaside resort of Combe Martin