Zenbird Editorial TeamSuntory Holdings Ltd., in collaboration with the University of Tokyo and Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., has launched a pioneering effort to address global water scarcity with an innovative new platform, “Water Security Compass.” The platform aims to help monitor and visualize the risk of water shortages worldwide, focusing on agricultural, industrial, and domestic uses.
The “Water Security Compass,” developed jointly with the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering, represents the world’s first platform to comprehensively track global water risks by categorizing supply and demand based on specific uses. A trial version of the platform has been made available for free since this summer, with a full release planned for 2025.
The platform is built upon a sophisticated model simulating the entire global water cycle. Developed by the University of Tokyo, the model takes into account seasonal variations and the effects of infrastructure on water supply, enabling it to identify high-risk areas. With the use of indicators like Cumulative Deficit to Demand (CDTD) and Sectorial and Statistical Demand To Availability (SS-DTA), the “Water Security Compass” aims to provide clear insights into water scarcity risks at a regional level.
Climate change is exacerbating water scarcity worldwide, threatening to intensify water-related challenges in many regions. It would threaten to exacerbate the 26% of the global population who lack access to safe drinking water. In response, companies and organizations are increasingly focusing on water conservation efforts. The “Water Security Compass” is designed to assist these initiatives by providing high-accuracy data to facilitate informed decision-making, thereby promoting effective water resource management.
The data from this platform has implications far beyond local and regional initiatives, potentially contributing to the development of global policies around water use and sustainability. Suntory Holdings and its partners hope that by disseminating better information about global water risks, they can drive a more strategic, coordinated international response.
The project has been realized through the University of Tokyo’s “Global Water Cycle Joint Research Course,” which focuses on water research, development, and human resource cultivation. The collaboration involves academia and industry working together to develop sustainable solutions to safeguard water resources, recognizing the critical need for sustainable water management in the face of climate change.
A formal release of the “Water Security Compass” is expected next year, and its developers anticipate it will become an invaluable tool for addressing one of the most urgent environmental challenges facing the world today.
[Reference] Press Release (Japanese)
