TEHRAN – Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to protect water, soil, and natural habitats, according to an official with the Department of Environment.

Today, artificial intelligence has greatly affected the lives of many people and in the not-too-distant future, it will be used to perform different tasks in developed countries without human intervention, IRNA quoted Nourollah Moradi as saying.

"New studies also show that artificial intelligence plays a key role in the environment, and the use of artificial intelligence can greatly help environmental conservation,” Moradi added.

Part of AI system performance in the environment includes predicting and monitoring climate change; controlling air and water pollution; waste and water management; and protecting biodiversity.

Moradi went on to say that predicting future climate patterns such as the concentration of air quality and pollutants as well as types of rainfall, their frequency and intensity, and climate change with unerring accuracy will be invaluable in preparing decision-makers to adopt the best strategies for environmental management.

AI can be used in wildlife management, he said, adding that it helps identify animal patterns and behaviors.

“It also helps us prevent endangered species from extinction and preserve biodiversity. For instance, artificial intelligence algorithms are used to identify and track birds or invasive animals’ migration patterns.”

AI can also improve soil management. It can be used to classify soil quality, soil temperature at different depths, soil type, and salinity, Moradi stated.

The other area where AI is making great strides is waste management. Predicting municipal solid waste production and smart waste recycling, aids in improving the processes of recycling and disposal of waste and preserving natural resources, he elaborated.

Early fire detection will also be one of the examples of AI technology in protecting the ecosystem.

AI can monitor water resources; predict the amount and quality of water; and manage channels and optimum use of water resources which can help governments and relevant organizations take effective policies to preserve water resources more efficiently.

The emergence of artificial intelligence can pave the way to pursue sustainable development goals and protect the environment.

Iran to become a leading country in AI

In January 2022, Shahram Moein, head of the innovation and development center of artificial intelligence at the Research Institute of Information and Communication Technology, said, “Iran will be placed among the top 10 countries in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2032 based on the national document on artificial intelligence strategy.”

The study of the national artificial intelligence development roadmap started two years ago at the Research Institute of Information and Communication Technology and was officially completed by the end of November 2021.

“To draft this document, strategic documents of 23 countries in the field of artificial intelligence were evaluated so that areas such as environment, health, transportation, online education, energy, robotics, industry, agriculture, and security development are among the priority areas of AI.

Among the goals of this document are 80 percent of research to meet the needs of the country, the use of 45 percent of artificial intelligence in industries, $8 billion investment in artificial intelligence, and a 12 percent share of AI in the GDP,” he explained.

Recent environmental projects

During National Environmental Week (June 6-12), 11 plans costing 500 billion rials (about $1 million) were inaugurated by the National Fund for the Environment, IRNA reported.

Moreover, some 300 educational, cultural, and scientific programs were implemented across the country. On the occasion of the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, more than 200 environmental projects were inaugurated across the country. The anniversary of the Islamic Revolution is celebrated annually from February 1 to 11.

The projects included establishing sewage treatment plants in industrial estates, setting up dust collector systems in industrial companies, and building ambient air quality monitoring stations and air quality monitoring systems, IRNA reported.

Launching fire extinguishing stations, building water quality monitoring stations, implementing wildlife demarcation projects, launching acid sludge neutralization systems, building water pumping stations for wetlands, constructing buildings for environment departments, building wastewater treatment systems, and establishing houses of the environment were other projects.

Roadmap for environmental protection

A roadmap for environmental protection has been developed, Rouhollah Naqdipour, the secretary of the strategic council of the Department of Environment, has announced.

The document presents 13 national macro strategies and 46 cross-sectoral measures for five main environmental challenges, he said, IRNA reported.

The 7-chapter book also suggests reforms for systematic purposeful solutions and policies to solve environmental issues including the water crisis, he further explained.

He listed the five major environmental challenges of the country as the imbalance between water resources and consumption leading to drought, soil erosion, waste and sand and dust storms, air pollution in metropolises, destruction of biodiversity and genetic resources, and imbalance between the environment and industrial and civil development.

MT/MG