Since 1987, when the “TECRO–AIT Water Resources Development Technical Assistance Agreement” was signed by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the two sides have maintained a long-term collaboration organized under Appendices 1–8. Among these, Appendix 6 and Appendix 8 are the most pivotal. Over more than three decades, cooperation has progressed from early-stage technical guidance to joint research, technical consultation, training, and practical application, advancing dam safety, reservoir operation and maintenance, river restoration, sediment management, numerical modeling, and sustainable water use.
Appendix 6 centers on dam engineering and related works. In 2026, under the updated scope of work, cooperation will focus on a case study of seismic emergency response measures and operating procedures for the Zengwen Reservoir embankment dam, smart AI applications in water resources management and reservoir operation systems, and field testing and technical study of fully grouted piezometers for reservoirs. Through on-site consultations, technical exchanges, and case-based discussions with experts from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, current efforts will continue to strengthen integrated dam safety assessment, monitoring and sensing technologies, seismic response capacity, and smart decision-support applications for reservoir management.
Appendix 8 focuses on river restoration, sediment management, and watershed modeling through a systems perspective that balances flood safety, sediment transport, and resilient river governance. In 2026, cooperation will continue to advance the expansion and enhancement of SRH-One modeling capabilities, the validation and application of Taiwan case studies, the integration of real-time watershed modeling with AI development for water resources, and numerical model training and technical consultation. Work will include applications related to the Laonong River watershed and the Zhuoshui River estuary, model development and validation, sediment transport analysis, flood management, and the use of high-performance computing to support real-time disaster prevention simulation.
To extend this technical foundation, technical exchange seminars will be planned during the 2026 Appendix 6 and Appendix 8 exchange programs. The Appendix 6 exchange is scheduled to take place from July 13 to 17, 2026, during which the “2026 TECRO–AIT Water Resources Technical Cooperation Seminar” will be held on July 16 at the GIS MOTC Convention Center, Xinwuri, Taichung. The seminar will bring together domestic experts, scholars, government representatives, water resources professionals, and visiting experts from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. With a focus on smart technologies, core engineering issues, and cross-disciplinary adaptation, the seminar will cover topics such as smart dam safety monitoring and AI applications, dam deformation and failure mechanisms and safety assessment, and infrastructure adaptation strategies under climate change.
The Appendix 8 exchange is expected to be held in September 2026. A related technical exchange seminar will also be planned in line with the annual work items, with discussions expected to focus on watershed numerical modeling, sediment transport, estuary and coastal modeling, real-time disaster prevention simulation, and AI applications in water resources. These exchanges will help consolidate technical outcomes before the 2026 annual meeting, which is scheduled to be held in the United States in October. The annual meeting will provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the year’s progress and discuss future directions under the TECRO–AIT water resources cooperation framework.
Looking ahead, the combined momentum of Appendix 6 and Appendix 8 will continue to strengthen TECRO–AIT collaboration in water resources management and technological innovation. By integrating Taiwan’s practical experience with international technical expertise, the cooperation will further enhance shared capacity in dam safety, smart monitoring, AI-assisted decision-making, sediment management, flood risk management, and climate change adaptation, contributing to more resilient and sustainable water resources management.