Almaty Student Develops AI Water System

Why this is here: ARYK.AI uses a “single-window” Telegram bot that allows Almaty residents to report aryk issues with photos, videos, and geolocation data, which the AI then analyzes for urgency and problem type.

In Almaty, Kazakhstan, tenth-grade student Amir Alniyazov created ARYK.AI, an artificial intelligence project designed to improve the city’s water management. The system aims to quickly address clogged aryk channels and prevent flooding after rainfall. Aryks are traditional water channels vital to Central Asian settlements for centuries, originally used for irrigation and cooling.

Almaty’s aryk network expanded during the Russian imperial period and was later reinforced with stone and concrete during Soviet times. However, rapid city growth and increased asphalt cover now strain the system with debris. ARYK.AI combines AI, sensors, and a Telegram bot for citizen reporting, allowing residents to submit photos and location data about issues.

The AI analyzes this data, prioritizes problems, and generates optimized routes for maintenance crews. It also creates a risk map to proactively identify vulnerable areas.

Though the project received positive feedback from the National Academy of Sciences and the Minister of Water Resources, it awaits approval for a pilot program within the city. Work continues to integrate the system into Almaty’s infrastructure.