AI may help Australia prepare for hotter, drier summers

As Australia heads into the summer months, the prospect of drought and water shortages is once again front of mind for communities, farmers and governments. Schneider Electric is highlighting how artificial intelligence (AI) and smart water technologies can help manage supply more effectively and reduce waste.

“Water scarcity has always been a challenge in Australia, but climate change means droughts and extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent,” said Carlos Urbano, Vice President, Industry for Pacific Zone at Schneider Electric. “Digital tools like AI are playing an increasingly important role in helping utilities and businesses manage this precious resource more efficiently.”

The role of AI in smarter water management

Through its EcoStruxure solutions for Water and Wastewater, Schneider Electric is supporting utilities, councils and agricultural businesses with technologies that:

• predict droughts and floods, giving decision-makers valuable time to prepare;
• optimise distribution networks, ensuring water is allocated fairly and efficiently;
• reduce agricultural waste, by enabling smarter irrigation and crop monitoring.
   

By combining automation and AI, operators can gain end-to-end visibility across treatment plants, pipelines and farms, helping ensure water reaches where it’s needed most while minimising losses.

However, the full potential of AI is only realised when paired with open, software-defined automation systems. Platforms such as Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Automation Expert enable seamless integration across diverse assets, helping utilities unlock deeper insights and more adaptive water management strategies at the edge.

One example of smart water management in action is WaterForce, an irrigation company that partnered with Schneider Electric to deploy EcoStruxure solutions across its operations. By integrating cloud-based monitoring, automation and real-time data analytics, WaterForce was able to optimise irrigation schedules, reduce water waste and improve crop yields, all while lowering energy costs.

As Australia faces the challenges of increasingly dry and unpredictable summers, such technologies offer a pathway towards more efficient, adaptive and resilient water systems.

“By embedding digital intelligence into water networks, we can support communities, farmers and industries to use water more wisely and build resilience against future droughts. However, to truly unlock the full value of AI, those networks also need open, software-defined automation, ensuring insights can flow seamlessly across every part of the system,” Urbano said.

“Schneider Electric’s local and global experience in water management is helping Australian organisations prepare for the challenges of a hotter, drier future. With smart solutions and AI-driven insights, there is an opportunity to safeguard supplies, strengthen food security and reduce stress on rural communities.”

Image credit: iStock.com/VMJones