Introducing the new episode of our Space4Water Webinar Series!
Our new installment of the Space4Water Webinar Series "From Data to Action" brings together water experts, practitioners, and institutions to explore how space-based data, technologies, and knowledge can be translated into practical solutions for water management and decision-making.
Join us on 29 October for our next webinar: “From Space-Based Forecasting to Canal Operational Decision-Making: Lessons from the Indus Basin,” with Hafsa Aeman from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
Water allocation in large canal irrigation systems often remains supply-driven, with releases based on fixed schedules rather than actual crop water requirements. In the Indus Basin Irrigation System, which supports around 160,000 km² of cultivated land in Pakistan, this can limit water-use efficiency and operational flexibility.
This webinar will present a space-based irrigation-demand forecasting framework that integrates Landsat-derived biophysical variables with machine-learning approaches to estimate actual evapotranspiration and translate anticipated crop water demand into period-specific canal discharge requirements. The framework was tested at the distributary-command scale in Punjab, where forecast discharge varied in response to cultivated area, crop water demand, and effective rainfall, demonstrating how satellite-based information can support more responsive canal operations.
The session will highlight the progression from model development and validation to seasonal testing, regular forecast generation, and dashboard-based delivery for operational decision support. It will also discuss practical lessons on translating technical Earth Observation outputs into actionable information for irrigation agencies, and the potential for scaling the approach toward more demand-responsive and climate-resilient canal management.
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Hafsa Aeman is a geospatial researcher at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), CGIAR, with a PhD in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing from Wuhan University, China. Her work focuses on applying Earth observation, GIS, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to address challenges in water resources and agricultural management. She has experience in satellite-based environmental monitoring, crop water requirements, irrigation demand forecasting, and the development of geospatial decision-support solutions. Her current research explores the integration of multitemporal satellite observations, climate data, and machine learning to support efficient irrigation planning and sustainable water management, particularly in data-scarce regions. As a young professional associated with the Space4Water Community, she is interested in promoting the practical application of space-based technologies and strengthening collaboration among researchers, institutions, and stakeholders to address water-related challenges.
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The Space4Water Webinar Series "From Data to Action" brings together experts, practitioners and institutions to explore how space-based data, technologies and knowledge can be translated into practical solutions for water management and decision-making. The series will feature scientific advances, operational tools, applied projects and real-world experience across areas such as water availability, drought and floods, agriculture, groundwater, climate resilience, ecosystems and river-basin management. It will also provide a platform for Space4Water stakeholders, experts and thematic working groups to share results, solutions and lessons learned, while offering new organizations and specialists an entry point into the Space4Water community.
