Google has introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) system that can provide advance warning of up to 24 hours for dangerous flash floods that occur in urban areas before they happen.
The system, named "Ground Source," is based on Google's Gemini AI and has been trained using more than 2.6 million past flood events from over 150 countries.
The system will give people more time to prepare in advance and live safely and securely.
The AI system can predict conditions that may cause sudden flooding in areas where flood monitoring systems are not well-established.
To make such predictions, it studies weather forecasts, satellite images, river-related data, maps, and historical flood conditions that have occurred in the past.
Unlike traditional flood forecasts that rely only on local sensors and equipment, Google's AI makes predictions using public data and machine learning.
Additionally, the system is designed to work in conjunction with existing weather systems rather than replace them.
Google distributes these predictions through a free platform called "Flood Hub," which displays flood warnings and maps in many countries.
The purpose of doing this is to help emergency response teams, governments, and the public take preventive action before flooding occurs.
Since flash floods happen within a short time frame and cause significant damage and losses every year, receiving such advance warnings like this can save many lives and reduce losses.
Ref: Technology Innovation
