7-Information Technology - Enabled Water Resources Technology and Management.

Abstract

As the 20th century came to a close, we were standing at the confluence of three powerful technological forces: computers, telecommunication, and electronic entertainment. This digital convergence is altering the world's economic landscape rapidly and radically. This development has led to the emergence nf Information Technology (IT), also referred to as Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Its influence is now all pervading and is felt in every walk of life. IT has been enabling activities in other engineering disciplines, either by the way of improving the manner in which things could be done or by making possible new activities. While civil engineering in general has been quick to assimilate such developments into its methods, techniques and procedures, water resources technology and management have also been significantly impacted by the developments in IT, The prospects are even more exciting and highly promising. In this paper, an overview of selected developments and the outlook for the near future are dealt with.