Main theme

Innovative Water Engineering for Sustainable Development

Introduction

The 41st IAHR World Congress 2025 in Singapore is a landmark event that centers around the pivotal theme of innovative water engineering for sustainable development. The global gathering will address the multifaceted challenges posed by the dynamic intersection of water resources management, climate change adaptation, and the intricate interplay between water, energy, food security, and nature. It shall provide a platform for experts, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to converge and share cutting-edge insights, groundbreaking research, and new solutions in the field of water engineering to meet these challenges.

As nations grapple with the effects of climate change, the Congress will delve into innovative water engineering that adapts to the evolving challenges posed by a changing hydro-environment. Another focal point of the Congress will be the exploration of innovative concepts that alleviate the increasing pressure on the water-energy-food nexus and acknowledge the intrinsic linkages between these vital resources. Understanding and optimizing this nexus is crucial for fostering sustainable development, and the Congress shall promote the global exchange and collaboration for integrated approaches that maximise these interconnected resources.

Finally, a key objective of the 41st IAHR World Congress 2025 in Singapore is to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water resources. These goals encompass a spectrum of global targets to tackle issues ranging from water scarcity and quality to sanitation and ecosystem preservation. By placing a spotlight on innovative water engineering, the Congress aims to contribute to the advancement of these SDGs in both rural and urban environments, towards a resilient society for the well-being of current and future generations.

Congress Sub-Themes and Topics

Sub-Theme A: Water Engineering and Technological Innovations

A.1 Climate Change Mitigation
  1. A.1.1 Water Footprint Reduction
  2. A.1.2 Incorporation of Water-related Renewable Energies
  3. A.1.3 Energy Efficiencies to be Gained from Water Uses
  4. A.1.4 Carbon Sequestration and Storage in Aquatic Environments
  5. A.1.5 Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Water Systems
  6. A.1.6 Other Related Topics
A.2 Improving Resilience against Water Hazards and Natural Disasters
  1. A.2.1 Coastal Processes and Hazards
  2. A.2.2 Hydraulic Structures and Processes
  3. A.2.3 Enhancements in Urban Drainage Systems
  4. A.2.4 Sediment Transport and Bathymetrical Changes Assessment
  5. A.2.5 Forecasting and Warning
  6. A.2.6 Disaster Risk Reduction
  7. A.2.7 Other Related Topics
A.3 Water Engineering and Society
  1. A.3.1 Water Resources Management
  2. A.3.2 River Engineering and Management
  3. A.3.3 Reservoirs Management
  4. A.3.4 Urban Hydraulics
  5. A.3.5 Eco- and Environmental Hydraulics
  6. A.3.6 Water Reclamation and Reuse
  7. A.3.7 Seawater Desalination
  8. A.3.8 Cross-boundary Water Transfer
  9. A.3.9 Alternative Water Resources
  10. A.3.10 Multi-objective Optimisation
  11. A.3.11 Other Related Topics
A.4 Water Engineering for Energy Transition and Food Security
  1. A.4.1 Reservoir Renewable Energy Systems (Hydropower, Floating Solar, etc)
  2. A.4.2 Marine Renewable Energy Systems (Wave Power, Tidal Power, Hybrid Solutions, etc)
  3. A.4.3 Offshore Renewable Energy Systems (Offshore Wind Power, Oceanic Current Power, etc)
  4. A.4.4 Water-Energy-Food Nexus
  5. A.4.5 Water Management for Urban Agriculture
  6. A.4.6 Water for Hydrogen Production
  7. A.4.7 Blue Economy
  8. A.4.8 Other Related Topics
A.5 Digital Transformation
  1. A.5.1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools for Analysis and Decision Support under Certainties
  2. A.5.2 Computational Methods for Climate and Meteorology
  3. A.5.3 Computational Methods for Hydraulic and Water Quality Modelling
  4. A.5.4 Computational Methods for Coastal Processes (Waves, Currents, etc)
  5. A.5.5 Data-Driven Methods and Machine Learning Techniques
  6. A.5.6 Hydroinformatics and Big Data Analytics
  7. A.5.7 Other Related Topics
A.6 Experimental and Field Methods
  1. A.6.1 Advanced Experimental Techniques
  2. A.6.2 Hydrological Measurements (Flow, Groundwater, Precipitation, etc)
  3. A.6.3 Water Quality Sampling and Analysis
  4. A.6.4 Aquatic Ecology and Biological Surveys
  5. A.6.5 Environmental Management and Monitoring
  6. A.6.6 Remote Sensing – Satellite
  7. A.6.7 Remote Sensing – Others (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Radar, etc)
  8. A.6.8 GIS Applications
  9. A.6.9 Data Uncertainty Analysis and Assessment
  10. A.6.10 Other Related Topics

Sub-Theme B: Water Engineering and Socio-Economic Considerations

B.1 Climate Change Adaptation
  1. B.1.1 Coastal Protection and Management
  2. B.1.2 Flood and Droughts Management
  3. B.1.3 Improvement in Design Guidance under Climate Change
  4. B.1.4 Revised Engineering Practices in Harmony with Nature
  5. B.1.5 Resilience Strategies for Extreme Events
  6. B.1.6 Adoption of Green and Grey Water Infrastructure
  7. B.1.7 Other Related Topics
B.2 Water and Nature
  1. B.2.1 Innovative Solutions for City in Nature with Water
  2. B.2.2 Nature-based Solutions for Upstream Catchments and Small Streams
  3. B.2.3 Nature-based Solutions for Large Rivers
  4. B.2.4 Nature-based Solutions for Coastal and Estuarine Waters
  5. B.2.5 Biodiversity in Aquatic Environments
  6. B.2.6 Ecosystem Services
  7. B.2.7 Other Related Topics
B.3 Hydro-Environment Engineering Culture
  1. B.3.1 Hydro-Environment History and Heritage
  2. B.3.2 Hydro-Environment Development and Cooperation
  3. B.3.3 Hydro-Environment Education
  4. B.3.4 Coastal Resilience and its Definitions
  5. B.3.5 Social Hydrology and Citizen Science
  6. B.3.6 Other Related Topics