Dr. Asief Alli & Dr. Teresa Cintrón

Topic: AI-powered | Hydro-hub Triad Living Lab

This report serves as an introduction, analysis and strategic blueprint for the "Hydro-hub Triad," a pioneering Living Lab initiative designed to address the systemic water crisis in the Global South. Led by a South African NGO in a tri-lateral collaboration with partners in Finland and Brazil, the project’s central objective is to develop and deploy a scalable, AI-powered "Digital Water Twin." This technology will transform reactive water management into a proactive, data-driven system capable of withstanding the compounded pressures of climate change, rapid urbanization, and aging infrastructure.

By targeting a significant reduction in non-revenue water (NRW), enhancing public health, and fostering a new generation of technical skills, the model aims to serve as an exportable blueprint for urban resilience. This document elaborates on the project's architectural framework in the ideation phase, its implementation strategy, and its profound anticipated multi-sectoral impact, demonstrating its potential as a transformative investment for sustainable development.