The Mekong region has experienced rapid economic growth; however, climate change and urbanization have intensified water-related disasters and upstream–downstream water disputes, posing significant challenges to sustainable development. To address these issues, the Republic of Korea and the United States launched a capacity-building project focused on water data utilization in the Mekong basin. This initiative aligns with the Friends of the Lower Mekong–Mekong River Commission Joint Statement (August 2018), which emphasizes strengthening water data management and information sharing. The project seeks to create synergy between South Korea’s New Southern Policy and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Vision by supporting scientific, data-driven water resources management. The ultimate goal is to enhance disaster resilience and promote sustainable development in the Mekong region by improving the accessibility and utilization of essential data for integrated water resources management (IWRM). Read more...
Priority Sector
Environment
Project Site
No. of Direct Beneficiaries
Duration
Oct-2019 to Oct-2022
The project's planned activities focused on Water Data Utilization and Capacity Building, comprising data production and analysis, training programs, and regional cooperation and exchange.
Implementation was jointly carried out by K-water (Republic of Korea), NASA, and USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers). By combining remote sensing, ground measurements, and model-based analysis, a scientific framework for water resources management was established.
The overall objective was to strengthen the capacity of Mekong River countries to manage water-related disasters, promote sustainable regional development, and reduce transboundary water resource conflicts.
Through training and technology transfer, water resource managers in participating countries were equipped with international-standard hydrological modeling tools such as HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS, thereby enhancing local capabilities in disaster assessment and water management.
K-water, in collaboration with NASA, successfully constructed a satellite remote sensing hydrological database covering both the upper and lower Mekong River. This system enables the monitoring of river water levels, reservoir operations, and drought and flood events, providing a scientific foundation for disaster early warning and response. The database was integrated with ground observation data and validated to ensure accuracy and practical application.
The project achieved notable progress in capacity building by organizing numerous regional training sessions and specialized seminars. These covered basic data processing, advanced hydrological modeling (HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS), policymaking, and international knowledge exchange. More than 50 government officials, technical staff, and MRC-related personnel from the five Mekong River countries participated, significantly enhancing their capacity to apply satellite data and hydrological models in practical contexts.
The project also promoted the initial establishment of mechanisms for information sharing and collaborative response among countries, reaching preliminary consensus on disaster management and water resource allocation.
Through joint training and multi-stakeholder cooperation, the project deepened collaboration among international technical institutions— including K-water, NASA, and USACE—in the Mekong River region, laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development and technological expansion of future initiatives.
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