A new approach to valuing water.
Analysing catchment dynamics through remote sensing and stakeholder engagement
Oxford Earth Observation
OxEO measures changes in water supply and demand at local catchment scale.
Our valuation framework enables the investment needed to achieve water security.
Valuing water
A scarce resource, the value of water is set by the unique supply and demand dynamics of every catchment. Where this information is unavailable or inaccessible, water is typically used inefficiently.
This deters the investment that is needed to achieve water security. Over the past two decades, freshwater availability per person has fallen by around 30%. [Source: World Bank]
Catchment dynamics
We use remote sensing, machine learning, in situ measurements and published data to analyse catchment dynamics.
Our goal is to measure changes in water supply and demand across a whole catchment, by source and user respectively.
We’re focused on around 100 catchments that are considered to be critical to achieving global water security by 2030.
Capital allocation
Achieving global water security by 2030 will require an estimated $100 billion per year. Current investment rates are around one-fifth of this.
Our vision is to provide a valuation framework for water that contributes to improved allocative efficiency within each catchment, stimulating additional investment from both the private and public sector.
Beyond technology
Our technical capabilities are world class. We have won awards for our work in computational hydrology, and have been published in top-rated journals.
But having worked on water issues for more than a decade, we know that technology-led solutions often do not incorporate local contexts. Our approach embeds local stakeholder engagement at its core.
