diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f08c73b..b8b0cd9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -55,10 +55,14 @@ This program is a machine learning model designed to predict flood inundation co
    - Data can be downloaded from the [Google Drive](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TW4Vfhu9SrrVrvonclicaWqy5hHBY7vv?usp=sharing)
    - Save the folder as `data` in the parent directory
 
-4. Set up a virtual environment (optional but recommended):
-`python3 -m venv env source env/bin/activate # On Windows, use env\Scripts\activate`
-
-5. Install the required libraries:
+3. Instantiate a conda enviroment for Python 3.11:
+  ```
+  conda create -n inflow_ai python=3.11
+  conda activate inflow_ai
+  conda install -c conda-forge rasterio=1.4.3
+  ```
+
+4. Install the required libraries:
 `pip install -r requirements.txt`
 
 
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 77e1c67..9d664a5 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,24 +1,24 @@
 # Ensure Python >= 3.11
 
-datetime==5.5
-geopandas==1.0.1
+datetime~=5.5
+geopandas~=1.0.1
 descartes
-h5py==3.12.1
-joblib==1.5.0
-loguru==0.7.3
-matplotlib==3.10.0
-netCDF4==1.7.2
-numpy==1.26.4
-pandas==2.2.2
-pathlib==1.0.1
-py_hydroweb==1.0.2
-rasterio==1.4.3
-requests==2.32.3
-scikit-learn==1.6.1
-scipy==1.13.1
+h5py~=3.12.1
+joblib~=1.5.0
+loguru~=0.7.3
+matplotlib~=3.10.0
+netCDF4~=1.7.2
+numpy~=1.26.4
+pandas~=2.2.2
+pathlib~=1.0.1
+py_hydroweb~=1.0.2
+rasterio~=1.4.3
+requests~=2.32.3
+scikit-learn~=1.6.1
+scipy~=1.13.1
 shapely
-tensorflow==2.18.0
-tqdm>=4.66.1
-typer==0.15.1
-wget==3.2
-xarray==2025.1.1
\ No newline at end of file
+tensorflow~=2.18.0
+tqdm~=4.66.1
+typer~=0.15.1
+wget~=3.2
+xarray~=2025.1.1