Time
2024
Project Facts
- Duration 6 months
- Funding source UNICEF Vietnam
- Principal investigator Dr. Dinh Thi Hai Van and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Doanh
- Field sites Ca Mau Province, Vietnam
Objectives
- Build an open-source desktop tool with integrated GIS to simulate saltwater intrusion spatially and temporally
- Support local disaster management through salinization scenario modeling
- Train provincial and district officials, women, teachers, and students on salinization awareness and tool usage
Focus areas
- Disaster Risk Management: Support scenario planning for infrastructure failures, dry-season planning, and early intervention.
- Environmental Monitoring: Incorporate hydrological, meteorological, and land-use data into salinization risk mapping.
- Community Capacity Building: Equip government staff and local residents with skills to forecast and respond to water salinity risks.
Methodology
- AI-based Agent Modeling: Use multi-agent frameworks to simulate complex salinization dynamics in river networks and dike systems.
- GIS-Integrated Dashboard: Visualize current and projected saltwater intrusion using interactive spatial layers and real-time data.
- Scenario Testing: Build and test multiple climate and policy scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5) to evaluate long-term impacts.
- User-Centered Co-Design: Collaborate with local officials and residents to refine tool features, interface, and recommendations.
- Training & Outreach: Deliver toolkits and hands-on sessions to over 100 government officers, teachers, and students.
Results
- Available as a web-based GIS model or lightweight Windows desktop application with full Vietnamese/English UI and user guide.
- Forecast maps showing salinity intensity across Ca Mau districts up to 2050.
- Improved preparedness among schools, clinics, and vulnerable communities through better water planning.
Partners & stakeholders
- Lead Technical Institution: UMMISCO / VinUniversity
- Funder: UNICEF Vietnam
- Government Counterparts: Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE), Provincial disaster management authorities
- Education & Community Partners: Selected primary and secondary schools, Local women’s groups, Commune-level health and irrigation officers
