On 4 September 2026, in Hanoi, Thuyloi University, together with VinUniversity and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia, successfully co-organised the Workshop on Intelligent Environment Monitoring and Forecasting. The workshop aimed to create a platform for cross-disciplinary and cross-sector knowledge exchange, and to discuss how environmental intelligence can better support sustainable development in Vietnam and the wider Southeast Asian region. The event brought together more than 100 delegates from universities, government agencies, including the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, international organisations (UNESCO, FAO of the UN), the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, as well as researchers, lecturers and students from universities and research institutions in Hanoi and beyond.
The workshop opened with remarks from Prof. Laurent El Ghaoui, Vice Provost of VinUniversity, followed by keynote presentations from representatives of the Department of Hydraulic Works Management and Construction (Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), CSIRO, FAO, and researchers from Thuyloi University and VinUniversity. The keynote speakers shared recent advances in intelligent environmental monitoring and forecasting technologies in both Vietnam and Australia, addressing challenges in environmental monitoring, management, and water quality assessment. The presentations highlighted growing interest in the use of artificial intelligence, digital twins, Earth observation, advanced sensing, low-cost sensors, and early-warning systems to strengthen environmental monitoring, forecasting and decision support in Vietnam and internationally.
The workshop also featured an interdisciplinary exchange session (Operational Readiness Sprint) bringing together domestic and international participants. Discussion groups actively examined the strengths and limitations of current approaches involving AI, IoT, Digital Twin, remote sensing and Earth Observation technologies. A recurring theme across the groups was that one of the greatest challenges remains the fragmented, poorly integrated data ecosystem, along with limited institutional mechanisms for sharing data and for translating research pilots into sustained operational systems. Building on this, participants jointly proposed pressing environmental issues to address at the local level, with the Red River and Mekong systems among the locations suggested for potential future pilots. In addition, the groups proposed developing a secure, accessible and cost-effective data-sharing system.
The workshop concluded with a special high-level panel discussion moderated by Dr Duy Nguyen, Water Quality Modelling Lead with AquaWatch Australia and an environmental scientist at CSIRO. The panel featured distinguished leaders and scholars, including Prof. Nguyen Trung Viet (President of Thuyloi University), Prof. Laurent El Ghaoui (Vice Provost of VinUniversity), Ms. Lina Wong (Economic Counsellor, Australian Embassy in Vietnam), Dr. Tim Malthus (Senior Principal Research Scientist in CSIRO), and Dr. Bui Du Duong (Vice President, Water Research Institute, NAWAPI, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment).
Under the theme “From Environmental Monitoring to Operational Environmental Intelligence: Opportunities for Vietnam and Southeast Asia,” the panel centred on a key overarching question: What is the biggest gap between current environmental monitoring and research capacity and a truly operational environmental intelligence system capable of supporting real-world decisions and remaining sustainable over the long term? During the discussion, Experts and policy representatives explored several interconnected challenges in moving from monitoring and research towards operational environmental intelligence, including model uncertainty, the practical role of artificial intelligence, data sharing and institutional coordination, sustainable financing, and pathways for translating research into operational services. Specifically:
- Model uncertainty: Panellists agreed that uncertainty is an inherent feature of environmental observations and forecasting systems and cannot be eliminated entirely. The challenge is therefore not only to quantify uncertainty, but also to communicate it clearly and meaningfully so that decision-makers understand the level of confidence, possible range of outcomes and implications for action.
- The practical role of AI: Panellists recognised the significant potential of AI to integrate large and diverse datasets and improve environmental analysis and forecasting. At the same time, AI should not be treated as a “black box”. Approaches such as Explainable AI and Physics-informed AI, and stronger integration between data-driven and process-based models, were highlighted as important for building transparency, trust and operational confidence.
- From research to sustained operations: A major gap remains in moving promising research and pilot projects into systems that can be maintained, scaled and used operationally. Panellists highlighted fragmented data, limited data-sharing mechanisms, unclear institutional responsibilities, long-term funding constraints and the need for stronger coordination among research organisations, government agencies and end users. Co-design should begin from the earliest stages, so that the research question, data requirements, operational responsibilities and decision needs are defined together.
Ms Lina Wong also highlighted the importance of investment, financing and international cooperation in helping promising research move beyond the laboratory and pilot stage. Approaches such as blended finance, public–private partnerships and bilateral or regional cooperation can help bridge the gap between research and implementation, enabling successful technologies and services to be sustained and scaled in response to growing environmental and climate risks.
In the closing round, panellists were asked what practical change they would like to see over the next three years as evidence that Vietnam had genuinely progressed towards operational environmental intelligence. Responses pointed not only to the wider deployment of advanced, lower-cost, low-maintenance sensors and the better integration of large environmental datasets, but also to stronger institutional collaboration. A key measure of progress would be the ability of government agencies, universities, research organisations, international partners and other stakeholders to share data, align responsibilities and jointly develop, operate and sustain environmental information systems.
Building on the panel discussion, Prof. Nguyen Trung Viet, President of Thuyloi University, outlined three areas through which TLU, as an academic and research institution, can contribute to this transition:
- Strengthening capacity building and technology transfer: Thuyloi University can continue to strengthen its role as a hub for capacity building and technology transfer, supporting the technical and technological capabilities required by practitioners and system operators at national and local levels.
- Sustaining research and continuous improvement: Continued field observations and data collection will remain important for refining AI algorithms, improving models and ensuring that operational systems can adapt to changing environmental, climatic and technological conditions.
- Bridging funding and policy: Real-world evidence from research and pilot activities can provide a stronger basis for developing future project pipelines, attracting bilateral and international funding, supporting policy engagement, and building long-term partnerships rather than isolated short-term initiatives.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration among research, government, industry, and international partners, while opening new opportunities for Thuyloi University to contribute its research, training, and technical expertise to the development of operational environmental intelligence in Vietnam and the wider Southeast Asian region.
By Vu Huong Ngan – Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation
Photos: VinUni
