As part of the World Environment Day 2026 celebrations, the IAHR Southern India Young Professional Network (IAHR SI-YPN) organized a two-day workshop on “AI/ML Applications in Water and Environmental Sustainability” on 5–6 June 2026. The workshop was conducted at the Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, with the inaugural session held at the OE Seminar Hall, expert lectures conducted in the Conference Room, and hands-on training sessions organized at the Department Computer Facility. The workshop aimed to introduce participants to emerging applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in addressing challenges related to water resources and environmental sustainability.

The workshop attracted 15 participants, including students, teachers, researchers, and research scholars from seven different institutions, providing a platform for interdisciplinary learning and knowledge exchange.

The workshop was formally inaugurated on 5 June 2026 between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM at the Seminar Hall of the Department of Ocean Engineering. The inaugural session commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Sannasiraj S. A., followed by the inaugural address by Prof. Deepak Kumar, Head of Department (In-charge), Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras. In his address, Prof. Deepak Kumar highlighted the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in addressing environmental and water-related challenges and emphasized the need for interdisciplinary approaches to achieve sustainable development goals. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Vengadesan Palanimanickam.

Day 1: Expert Talks

The first day featured expert lectures by distinguished speakers from academia, research organizations, and industry. The sessions covered both fundamental AI/ML concepts and their practical applications in water and environmental engineering.

The invited speakers and their topics were:

• Prof. Balaraman Ravindran (IIT Madras) – AI/ML Methods and Concepts

• Prof. Saravanan Ramasamy (Anna University) – AI in Sustainable Water Resources Management

• Dr. Bala Naga Jyothi V (NIOT) – AI in Marine and Coastal Processes and Management

• Dr. D. Kumaran Raju (NTCPWC) – AI/ML Applications in Port Operations and Management

• Dr. Jeba Princy Rathinaraj (AquaMAPS, IIT Madras) – AI in Remote Sensing and Crop Management

The lectures highlighted the potential of AI/ML techniques to improve prediction, monitoring, and decision-making in water and environmental systems. The interactive discussions that followed each session enabled participants to engage directly with experts and gain insights into current research trends and practical applications.

Day 2: Hands-on Training Sessions

The second day focused on hands-on learning, allowing participants to apply AI/ML tools to real-world engineering and environmental problems.

Session 1: Application of AI/ML in Scour Prediction under Bridge Piers
Facilitated by Mr. Gopi Chand Reddy (NTCPWC) using Google Colab, this session introduced participants to data-driven approaches for predicting scour around bridge piers. Participants gained practical experience in model development and performance evaluation.

Session 2: Application of AI/ML in Satellite Remote Sensing for Rainfall Measurement Using Environmental Proxies
Facilitated by Dr. Yashwanth (CACS, IIT Madras) using RStudio and open-source satellite data, this session demonstrated the integration of AI/ML techniques with satellite remote sensing data for rainfall estimation and environmental monitoring applications.

The hands-on sessions provided valuable exposure to modern AI/ML tools and workflows, enhancing participants' understanding of their practical relevance in water resources and environmental engineering.

Outcome and Acknowledgements

The workshop successfully combined expert talks, hands-on training, and real-world case studies, offering participants a comprehensive introduction to AI/ML applications in water and environmental sustainability. The active participation and enthusiasm of attendees contributed significantly to the success of the event.

The Organizing Committee sincerely thanks all the speakers, trainers, and participants for their valuable contributions and enthusiastic participation. The successful conduct of the workshop was made possible through the dedicated efforts of Dr. Vengadesan Palanimanickam (President), Vijaya Priya K. (Vice President), Kayalvizhi Sargurunathan (Treasurer), Dr. Krishnavelu Ramachandran (Secretary), Dr. Hari Ram N (Ex-Vice President), and Harini, along with the continuous guidance and support of Prof. Sannasiraj S. A. (Advisor). Their commitment and contributions played a vital role in the success of the event.