Publish : 12 Jan 2022, 09:29 PMUpdate : 12 Jan 2022, 09:28 PM
South Korea recently proposed investing in Bangladesh's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector citing the nation’s progress in the sector incubated over the last decade.
As per the South Korean Ambassador Lee Jang-Keun, the collaboration with Bangladesh in a piloting project will see investments funded by the World Bank, targeted to grow local capacity enhancements in drone technology to improve water quality management and aquaculture.
The country is also interested in setting up a geo-specialized Lab in Bangladesh, for capacity building of government officials with the help of the Korea International Cooperation Agency, according to a press statement of the ICT Division issued last week, following a meeting between the South Korean Ambassador and State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
The South Korean envoy promised all-out support to the development of Bangladesh's ICT sector, with a coordination meeting to take place in February regarding the implementation of the project.
According to experts, other than developing the ICT sector, such a project has the potential to develop other major industries that hugely depend on water as well.
Syed Almas Kabir, the president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) told Dhaka Tribune: “I think drones can be used to make the wastewater management and water delivery system more efficient ensuring safety. It is also a cost-effective tool to detect water losses as well as theft in densely populated areas. But, to take full advantage of this, we need to develop expertise in Big Data and AI. Examining the collected data (aerial photos and videos) and extracting insights from them needs AI-driven analytical tools. Drone-based water management can help us deliver clean chemical-free water for human consumption as well as for irrigation.”
Md Shoaib Choudhury, the proprietor of Water Treaters and an entrepreneur who has global experience in water management and treatment for industrialization purposes, explained to Dhaka Tribune, that water being efficiently managed has the potential to develop other sectors that are heavily dependent on it.
“Bangladesh’s agriculture sector, which has huge potential, is largely dependent on water, and if technology is utilized to manage and treat it we can supply it to regions such as the northern part which has high salinity, and hence unable to yield certain products. Freshwater supply would solve such issues and help the sector to grow,” said the water treatment and management expert.
He further added: “Water is essential to almost all industries that are involved in manufacturing such as that of the ready-made-garment sector, steel and iron manufacturing, and many others. Apart from that, water management is also crucial in recycling industrial wastewater, cutting down costs and ensuring sustainable use of resources.
According to him, South Korea has initiated drone pilot projects in various fields such as goods transportation, protection and surveillance, facility safety diagnosis, marine management, agricultural support, video shooting, and many more.
Earlier in the meeting, the ICT minister also underscored the importance of adopting a systematic approach and coordination among different ministries with the ICT Division to use drone technology.
Global applications in water monitoring
Drones or Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology is increasingly being used in applications for water monitoring globally.
According to research from Goldman Sachs, the drone market was forecasted to have grown to a $100 billion market size between 2016 and 2020.
This included $70 billion for military applications, $17 billion for consumers and $13 billion for commercial and civil.
In the UK, Anglian Water—a water recycling company trialled thermal imaging drone technology to detect leaking water pipes by identifying differences in soil temperature.
In New Zealand’s city of Auckland, drone technology is being used to collect water quality samples, resulting in a 30% saving in operating costs.
Meanwhile, Dutch company LG Sonic developed the MPC-NanoBubble Application that increases oxygen levels in lakes based on real-time data to help eliminate algae.
Drones are increasingly being used to help speed up monitoring processes in the water sector in responding to algae outbreaks more quickly.
The South Korean government-funded Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, known as ETRI, has developed a system that combines drones and hyperspectral camera technology which is designed to help monitor drinking water sources and appease worries over algal bloom outbreaks.
Meanwhile, hyperspectral technology is a developed system that examines water bodies, looking for algae migration, spread, and distribution in rivers or streams.
The hyperspectral sensor is used to indicate whether the algae are at one of three levels: Attention, Warning, or Outbreak and the data is then analyzed using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
S Korea for helping ICT sector using drones in water projects
According to experts, apart from the ICT sector, the project has the potential to develop other major industries that hugely depend on water
South Korea recently proposed investing in Bangladesh's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector citing the nation’s progress in the sector incubated over the last decade.
As per the South Korean Ambassador Lee Jang-Keun, the collaboration with Bangladesh in a piloting project will see investments funded by the World Bank, targeted to grow local capacity enhancements in drone technology to improve water quality management and aquaculture.
The country is also interested in setting up a geo-specialized Lab in Bangladesh, for capacity building of government officials with the help of the Korea International Cooperation Agency, according to a press statement of the ICT Division issued last week, following a meeting between the South Korean Ambassador and State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
The South Korean envoy promised all-out support to the development of Bangladesh's ICT sector, with a coordination meeting to take place in February regarding the implementation of the project.
According to experts, other than developing the ICT sector, such a project has the potential to develop other major industries that hugely depend on water as well.
Syed Almas Kabir, the president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) told Dhaka Tribune: “I think drones can be used to make the wastewater management and water delivery system more efficient ensuring safety. It is also a cost-effective tool to detect water losses as well as theft in densely populated areas. But, to take full advantage of this, we need to develop expertise in Big Data and AI. Examining the collected data (aerial photos and videos) and extracting insights from them needs AI-driven analytical tools. Drone-based water management can help us deliver clean chemical-free water for human consumption as well as for irrigation.”
Md Shoaib Choudhury, the proprietor of Water Treaters and an entrepreneur who has global experience in water management and treatment for industrialization purposes, explained to Dhaka Tribune, that water being efficiently managed has the potential to develop other sectors that are heavily dependent on it.
“Bangladesh’s agriculture sector, which has huge potential, is largely dependent on water, and if technology is utilized to manage and treat it we can supply it to regions such as the northern part which has high salinity, and hence unable to yield certain products. Freshwater supply would solve such issues and help the sector to grow,” said the water treatment and management expert.
He further added: “Water is essential to almost all industries that are involved in manufacturing such as that of the ready-made-garment sector, steel and iron manufacturing, and many others. Apart from that, water management is also crucial in recycling industrial wastewater, cutting down costs and ensuring sustainable use of resources.
According to him, South Korea has initiated drone pilot projects in various fields such as goods transportation, protection and surveillance, facility safety diagnosis, marine management, agricultural support, video shooting, and many more.
Earlier in the meeting, the ICT minister also underscored the importance of adopting a systematic approach and coordination among different ministries with the ICT Division to use drone technology.
Global applications in water monitoring
Drones or Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology is increasingly being used in applications for water monitoring globally.
According to research from Goldman Sachs, the drone market was forecasted to have grown to a $100 billion market size between 2016 and 2020.
This included $70 billion for military applications, $17 billion for consumers and $13 billion for commercial and civil.
In the UK, Anglian Water—a water recycling company trialled thermal imaging drone technology to detect leaking water pipes by identifying differences in soil temperature.
In New Zealand’s city of Auckland, drone technology is being used to collect water quality samples, resulting in a 30% saving in operating costs.
Meanwhile, Dutch company LG Sonic developed the MPC-NanoBubble Application that increases oxygen levels in lakes based on real-time data to help eliminate algae.
Drones are increasingly being used to help speed up monitoring processes in the water sector in responding to algae outbreaks more quickly.
The South Korean government-funded Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, known as ETRI, has developed a system that combines drones and hyperspectral camera technology which is designed to help monitor drinking water sources and appease worries over algal bloom outbreaks.
Meanwhile, hyperspectral technology is a developed system that examines water bodies, looking for algae migration, spread, and distribution in rivers or streams.
The hyperspectral sensor is used to indicate whether the algae are at one of three levels: Attention, Warning, or Outbreak and the data is then analyzed using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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