Special Issue on AI for Water and Ecological Management: Empowering Decision-Making and Regulatory Design

As global water resources face increasing stress and ecological challenges intensify, intelligent technologies, represented by AI, are transforming water-resource management and ecosystem protection. Tools such as remote sensing, geographic information system, augmented reality, big-data analytics, cloud computing, internet-of-things, and AI, enable scientific management, precise regulation, and adaptive design, supporting ecological conservation and sustainable development. To showcase the latest developments, promote academic exchange and technology dissemination, and advance the innovation and application of intelligent technologies in water and ecology, Water & Ecology is launching a special issue on "AI for Water and Ecological Management: Empowering Decision-Making and Regulatory Design". This special issue is launched by Professor Dragan Savic (a member of the Editorial Board of Water & Ecology), Professor Aijie Wang (Harbin Institute of Technology), Professor Ibrahim Demir (Tulane University), Professor Jiping Jiang, and Professor Bin Liang (both from Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen).

Topics

This special issue invites the latest research and practical applications that demonstrate how intelligent technologies can enhance resilience, optimize resource allocation, and inform policy and regulatory frameworks in water and ecological systems. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

Early warning and risk management for water and ecological systems using big data and AI

Intelligent regulation and enhancement of natural water systems for ecosystem services and resilience

Smart water-quality control in engineered systems (treatment plants, networks, rivers)

AI-driven urban water-system design, including resilience and generative approaches

Emerging digital technologies for sustainable water-resource management and ecological protection

Schedule

Submission Deadline: June 1 2026

Anticipated article types: Research Articles, Reviews, Case Studies, Perspectives, Short Communications, etc.

Article Waiver %: 100%

Guest editor

Dragan Savic, KWR Water Research Institute, Netherlands

Email: dragan.savic@kwrwater.nl

Aijie Wang, Harbin Institute of Technology, China

Email: waj0578@hit.edu.cn

Ibrahim Demir, Tulane University, USA

Email: idemir@tulane.edu

Jiping Jiang, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, China 

Email: jiangjp@hit.edu.cn

Bin Liang, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, China

E-mail: liangbin1214@hit.edu.cn

Submission guidelines

Journal Website：www.water-ecology.cn

Submission System：https://www.editorialmanager.com/wateco/default2.aspx ( select “VSI: AI for Water and Ecology”)

Consulting E-mail: we@rcees.ac.cn