Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is moving forward with a major digital transformation project aimed at strengthening the monitoring and maintenance of hydraulic infrastructure across the country. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Dr. Hani Sweilem received a detailed progress report from Eng. Yasser El-Shabrakhity, Head of the Dams and Major Barrages Sector, on the ongoing establishment of a national knowledge base for hydraulic structures using advanced 3D laser-scanning technology.
The project, funded under the Egypt–Netherlands Joint Cooperation Program for Applied Research (Water-JCAR), deploys high-precision 3D scanning techniques to capture the structural condition of key water installations. According to the report, the laser-scanning surveys have been completed for the Nagaa Hammadi Barrages on the Nile, the Menoufi Rayyah Intake Barrage, and the Gomgomra and Mansouria Barrages on the Tewfiki Canal. The work is being carried out through coordinated efforts between the Dams and Barrages Sector and the Survey Research Institute, with digital modelling and data analysis under way at the Construction Research Institute of the National Water Research Center.
The pilot phase will form the foundation for a wider national program aimed at creating a comprehensive digital database covering all major water-control structures across Egypt. This knowledge base is expected to become a critical tool for engineering assessment, preventive maintenance, and long-term structural planning.
In public remarks, Minister Sweilem highlighted the significance of adopting remote-inspection technologies such as 3D laser scanning, describing them as a new paradigm for monitoring structures that are difficult to inspect manually. He noted that the method provides highly accurate assessments while saving both time and effort. More importantly, it serves as an early-warning system, flagging any signs of deterioration in the structural integrity of water installations, thereby enabling the ministry to intervene quickly and effectively before problems escalate.
The minister added that the technology delivers precise digital models that will support the development of proactive maintenance strategies, ultimately extending the operational life of critical water infrastructure. He emphasized that the project beginning with the scanning of the Nagaa Hammadi, Menoufi Intake, Gomgomra, and Mansouria barrages, represents a practical step toward applying similar evaluation methods nationwide.
Sweilem also stressed that adopting advanced technologies is a key pillar of the second generation of Egypt’s irrigation modernization strategy. As part of this effort, specialized training programs are underway for engineers and technicians in the Dams and Major Barrages Sector. The programs are delivered in cooperation with the Survey Research Institute and the Construction Research Institute, equipping staff with skills in 3D scanning, digital modeling, and data interpretation.
By integrating smart water-management tools into its operational framework, the ministry aims to enhance efficiency, strengthen infrastructure resilience, and ensure the sustainability of Egypt’s water resources in the face of growing technical and environmental challenges.
