The Aqueduct Alliance, a tool to create maps using hydrological data and geographically specific details, allows companies and investors to see water availability in a number of large river basins. Detailed water risk maps can be created and water shortages can be predicted up til 2095, according to Alertnet.
However some critics, such as Lori Pottinger, Africa campaigner at International Rivers are worried: "The risk is that the concerns of local people are left behind in the rush to secure access to water and reduce risk for companies."
"This is a tool that needs to develop into something more in tune with the reality of local communities,” said Vibhu Nayar, founder of the Centre of Excellence for Change in Chennai, India, which works on mitigating climate change-related water and food crises.
In fact, Local community mapping projects are increasingly common. They may use simple techniques such as maps drawn by hand, but also high tech global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS) and other digital technologies.