Digitalisation and Earth Observation for Sustainable Water Security and Transboundary Diplomacy in Central Asia

Water security across Central Asia is increasingly threatened by climate variability, ageing irrigation infrastructure, rapid demographic change, and complex transboundary water-sharing arrangements. Digitalisation combined with advanced Earth Observation (EO) technologies provides a critical pathway for improving transparency, strengthening regional cooperation, and supporting sustainable basin-scale water management. In this study, we demonstrate an integrated digital–EO framework for monitoring water availability and evaluating hydrological dynamics across the Syr Darya and Amu Darya basins. Using multi-source datasets—including CHIRPS and GPM precipitation, MODIS and SSEBop evapotranspiration, and GRACE/GRACE-FO total water storage anomalies—processed within the Google Earth Engine environment, we quantify seasonal and interannual variability in catchment-scale water balance components. The analysis highlights significant hydrological fluctuations driven by climate and upstream water-use pressures, underscoring the need for adaptive and data-driven management approaches.

We further discuss how the combination of remote sensing, machine learning analytics, and emerging IoT-based monitoring systems can enhance the digital transformation of water governance in Central Asia. These tools support more equitable data sharing, reduce uncertainty in transboundary negotiations, and provide a technical foundation for strengthening water diplomacy between riparian states. The study concludes with recommendations on operationalising EO‑based digital platforms to improve transparency, build trust, and advance long-term water security and cooperative river-basin governance in the region.