Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics in Water Environments

Abstract

Metrics & MoreArticle RecommendationsT here has been a remarkable surge in the number of journal articles detailing the application of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data analytics tools across a wide array of environmental applications. Acknowledging this trend, we released a virtual issue in ACS ES&T Water in 2022 that pulled together existing papers published since 2021, exploring the latest advancements, research, and obstacles in utilizing AI, ML, and data analytics to address environmental issues within the context of water. 1 The topics covered in that virtual issue spanned various domains, encompassing drinking water and wastewater treatment, energy consumption, quantification of microplastics, prediction of chemical reactivity, and analysis of water usage data in U.S. manufacturing.Building upon this initiative, in 2022 we issued a public call for papers to curate a special issue in ACS ES&T Water dedicated to applications of AI, ML, and data analytics in water environments. We invited submissions that would showcase the latest research activities in this domain, be of broad interest to the water community, and highlight methods, applications, and key insights. Now finalized, this special issue comprises more than 30 cutting-edge reviews and research articles that extensively explore the ongoing advancements, research opportunities, challenges, and applications of AI, ML, and data analytics in addressing water-related environmental issues. Beyond showcasing the state-of-the-art, this issue serves to reveal research priorities to move our community forward through harnessing these powerful approaches to solve complex problems critical to sustainability and environmental quality.