I found a project as shown by the website below:
https://www.space4water.org/local-perspectives-case-studies/escalating-…
Escalating water scarcity and groundwater overextraction in Jordan: climate-driven droughts and the urgent need for integrated resource management
Description
This challenge centers on Jordan’s worsening water crisis, one of the most severe globally. The country faces chronic water scarcity due to naturally low rainfall, limited renewable water sources, and rapid population growth. The crisis is further intensified by climate-driven droughts and unsustainable groundwater extraction, which together threaten long-term water security. The challenge aims to develop space-based monitoring and management strategies to better understand, predict, and mitigate the compounding impacts of drought and groundwater depletion on national water systems.
Has this problem been acknowledged in the past?
Yes. The Government of Jordan has consistently identified water scarcity as a national security issue, reflected in strategic plans such as the National Water Strategy (2016–2025), done by the ministry of water and irrigations. NGOs, the Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre (RJGC), UN agencies (e.g., UNDP, FAO), and international donors (e.g., USAID, GIZ) have also highlighted overextraction, drought risks, and climate change impacts on water systems. However, the integration of space-based tools into long-term water planning remains underutilized.
Can this challenge be solved using space technologies and data?
Yes. Space technologies are vital for monitoring, forecasting, and managing water resources at scale. Relevant Technologies and Datasets:
GRACE / GRACE-FO: To monitor changes in groundwater storage.
High resolution satellite images/ Sentinel-1 & Sentinel-2 / Landsat: For land cover analysis, evapotranspiration, and agricultural water use.
SMAP / AMSR2: To observe soil moisture and support drought severity assessments.
GPM / TRMM: To quantify precipitation trends and anomalies.
CMIP6 / ERA5 datasets: For long-term climate change modeling and scenario analysis.
Geospatial integration platforms (e.g., GIS + remote sensing): For visualization and decision-making tools.
Expected timeframe to develop a solution
Short-term (Pilot development): 6–12 months
Mid-term (Scaling + capacity building): 1–2 years
Long-term (Policy integration + sustainability): 3–5 years
Potential consequences if no action happens
Accelerated depletion of major aquifers, risking irreversible damage.
Increased water insecurity for households, agriculture, and industry.
Greater risk of economic losses and social instability due to water conflicts.
Reduced resilience to climate change and inability to meet SDG targets.
Higher costs for emergency water sourcing and infrastructure.
What are additional physical requirements for a solution?
Satellite data access and processing infrastructure.
Trained personnel in remote sensing, hydrology, and GIS.
Ground observation networks for validation and calibration.
Secure data storage and high-performance computing facilities.
Institutional collaboration frameworks among ministries, universities, and international partners.
Long-term funding mechanisms for operational sustainability.
Impact of a solution if the success criteria are fulfilled
Jordan will benefit from a robust, space-based water information system enabling sustainable groundwater use.
Improved drought resilience through accurate forecasting and early warning.
Data-driven governance and public trust in transparent water policies.
Regional knowledge-sharing model for other arid and semi-arid countries facing similar challenges.
Strengthened scientific and institutional capacity in climate-resilient water resource management.
Problem Definition
Jordan’s renewable freshwater availability is less than 100 m³ per person per year—far below the global water poverty threshold. Decades of overextraction have depleted groundwater reserves, particularly in critical basins like Amman-Zarqa. The problem is exacerbated by prolonged and more frequent droughts due to climate change, leading to diminished aquifer recharge and increased reliance on groundwater. Currently, water management lacks an integrated, data-driven system that connects drought monitoring, groundwater use, and climate projections. As a result, water planning and allocation remain reactive rather than strategic.
Success criteria
Develop an integrated, space-supported monitoring system for drought and groundwater dynamics.
Support data-driven policies for equitable and sustainable water resource allocation.
Strengthen early warning systems and climate adaptation strategies.
Enhance national and local capacity in geospatial and hydrological analysis.
Deployment of operational drought monitoring and groundwater tracking tools using remote sensing.
Reduced groundwater overextraction rates in target basins.
Implementation of policy changes informed by satellite-derived insights.
Improved collaboration between governmental and research institutions.
Thematic focus area
Water scarcity and drought
Groundwater
Relevant data sources/publications
FAO. AQUASTAT - FAO’s Global Information System on Water and Agriculture: Country Profile - Jordan. 2008. https://www.fao.org/aquastat/en/countries-and-basins/country-profiles/c….
Hasan, N. A., Dongkai, Y., & Al-Shibli, F. 2023. “SPI and SPEI Drought Assessment and Prediction Using TBATS and ARIMA Models, Jordan.” Water 15, no. 20 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/W15203598.
Jordan Ministry of Water and Irrigation. “National Water Strategy 2016-2025.” 2016. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/jor156264E.pdf.
Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre maps and data
Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD)
CSIC Climate Services for SPI/SPEI computation
CMIP6 datasets (IPCC)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) reports on water governance in Jordan
