BiodivKI
IQ-Wasser
AI-supported recording and forecasting of biodiversity and water quality in drinking water reservoirs
Surface waters such as lakes and reservoirs have a complex biological diversity and are used as a resource for 12% of Germany’s drinking water. Due to climate change, environmental pollution and the spread of invasive species (neobiota), many bodies of water are experiencing a loss of biodiversity, which is having a negative impact on water quality.
The aim of the IQ-Wasser project is to combine new molecular biological methods such as metagenome analyses with the use of AI methods to evaluate very large amounts of data. This will enable new insights into changes in aquatic ecosystems and a well-founded forecast of water quality. To this end, modern methods are used to detect toxin-producing algae, identify pathogens and sources of fecal contamination, assess antibiotic resistance and detect neobiota at an early stage. Based on the results, targeted measures can be introduced to preserve natural biodiversity and safeguard water quality.
In the first phase, the project pursues the in-depth development of a concept and the preparation of an application for a second phase, which focuses on the implementation of the aforementioned objectives. In addition, initial scientific work will be carried out in the project to enable an effective and rapid entry into a possible second phase.