From Field Data to AI Models: Water Quality Modeling

Presenters: Craig Irwin, Water Quality Specialist, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Kathy Tang, GIS Analyst, Geography & Environment Department, Western University

Ever wonder how scientists keep track of what’s happening in our local lakes and reservoirs? Monitoring key water quality indicators—like total phosphorus (TP) and dissolved oxygen (DO)—helps us understand lake health, manage algae growth, and protect aquatic life.

In this workshop, please join Craig Irwin, Water Quality Specialist at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, as he explores the Conservation Authority’s role in Watershed Management, water quality trends in phosphorus and chloride levels, and key data gaps—highlighting opportunities for future collaboration.

Then, Kathy will introduce two machine learning models, Random Forest and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and demonstrate how these tools can be applied to predict and map TP and DO concentrations in three small reservoirs in the Upper Thames River Conservation Area. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or simply curious about how technology is helping us care for our environment, this hands-on session will show how data and AI are shaping the future of water management.

*This event is sponsored by Western Sustainable Impact Fund*