Google will now provide flood forecasts in 100 countries

Google recently announced the expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI)-based flood forecasting system. The search giant will now cover 100 countries and offer river flood forecasts to a global population of 700 million people. The company also offers its data sets to researchers and partners to better understand its systems and benefit from the prediction system. In addition, Google has also developed a new application programming interface (API) that allows them to seamlessly access the data.

Google improves forecasting models and expands rollout

In one blog postthe tech giant has detailed its flood forecasting system expansion plans. The model now covers 100 countries and a population of 700 million people, compared to the previous 80 countries and a population of 400 million people.

The company says this expansion was possible thanks to advances in research that gave it access to more labeled data to train its AI models, a new prediction model that acts as input to its boundary prediction system, as well as a new model architecture.

In addition, Google also announced the decision to make the predictions of its flood forecast models available to researchers and partners. This will be done in two ways: via the existing Google Runoff Reanalysis & Reforecast (GRRR) datasets and a new API that is currently under development.

The API allows users to access the company’s hydrological forecasts and expected flood status in both urban areas and regions where local data is limited. Google’s partners and researchers can now sign up and join the waitlist to express interest in the AI-based model.

The Flood Hub in the forecast system now has an additional data layer covering 2,50,000 forecast points using “virtual meters”. Virtual gauges are Google’s simulation-based forecasting system that uses various geological and atmospheric factors to measure the possibility of river flooding. While the company can use the system to make discharge forecasts around the world, it will only show areas where the data can be verified using historical data from reliable sensors.

Furthermore, the company claimed that compared to previous systems that could provide forecasts for the next five days, the new system can now accurately display flood forecasts for the next seven days. Google believes its AI-based forecasting system can be used by governments in affected areas to develop crisis response plans and better manage people’s lives and infrastructure.