Bangladeshi researcher Zabeer Zarif Akhter, 19, has received an Outstanding Award at the World Water Challenge 2026 in South Korea for UrbanSentinel, an AI-based system designed to detect and trace urban water contamination.
Bangladeshi researcher Zabeer Zarif Akhter, 19, has won an Outstanding Award at the World Water Challenge 2026 in Daegu, South Korea, for developing UrbanSentinel, an AI-driven system designed to detect and trace contamination in urban water systems.
The system combines deep learning, sensors and nanotechnology to identify potential water contamination and trace its sources. The project was developed through Akhter’s research assistantship at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)’s Institute of Appropriate Technology.
Akhter was selected for the recognition from among around 12,000 participants from across the world at the international water-focused competition.
With the award, the project is now moving toward its next stage. Akhter plans to pilot UrbanSentinel in real urban environments to assess how the system performs under practical conditions and explore its potential for urban water quality monitoring.
The project highlights the growing use of artificial intelligence and advanced sensing technologies in addressing urban environmental challenges, particularly the detection and management of water contamination.