Solutions for Creating a Revolution in Water Resources Data Collection and Processing Using Global Experiences

Data and information play a special role in the transparency of water governance. On the other hand, witnessing contradictions in water resources data and information, inconsistent readings and narratives about water assets, outdated hardware equipment, and to some extent software enhancement in the preparation and presentation of water resources information compared to global advances, necessitates a serious review of water resources data collection and processing systems. In this regard, artificial intelligence methods, sensors, and remote sensing technologies are considered in accurate water resources accounting. This article is a systematic review of about 100 international articles that present the latest findings related to software and hardware equipment for monitoring hydrological cycle meta-indicators. These meta-indicators include precipitation, water depth/water level/flow velocity and discharge of rivers, and groundwater level. In each case, while providing a list of the most important technologies, the application level of these technologies in monitoring surface and groundwater resources in Iran was evaluated. The conducted studies prove the unfavorable application technologies in monitoring hydrological cycle in Iran. For example, out of a total of twenty-six known technologies related to surface flow measurements, only two technologies have been widely used Iran; four technologies have reached the knowledge frontier and widespread production by domestic knowledge-based companies, and eleven technologies have not yet reached the knowledge frontier Iran. In this paper, suggestions were presented to outline the path for developing new technologies for water cycle data collection and transformation in the modernization of Iran's water resources data collection and data processing infrastructure.