Unpredictable Floods Due to Climate Change Managed with AI and Satellite Technology

By 2023, 49.8 Billion Invested in AI Flood Forecasting System... "Full Operation in 2025"

Source: Ministry of Environment

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced that it will introduce a flood forecasting system utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) by 2025. This is to respond to the increasing difficulty in flood management due to sudden heavy rains caused by climate change.

The Ministry of Environment announced on the 30th that it will actively promote "scientific flood management" using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), rainfall radar, and water resource satellites.

First, it decided to introduce a flood forecasting system using AI by 2025.

Flood information collection sensors will be installed in 100 local rivers nationwide vulnerable to floods, and based on the information received from each sensor, a flood forecasting platform applying AI technology will be established.

Source: Ministry of Environment

To this end, the Ministry of Environment will invest 49.8 billion KRW by 2023, conduct pilot operations from 2023 to 2024, and fully operate the flood forecasting system in 2025.

Using rainfall radar, sudden floods caused by abrupt heavy rain will be detected. The Ministry of Environment explained that by utilizing rainfall radar, forecast information can be provided up to one hour in advance at the eup, myeon, and dong levels.

Based on the flood response golden time securing technology to be developed by the end of next year, field verification will be completed for the Nakdong River basin by the end of this year and for other basins by the end of next year. The goal is to commercialize the technology starting in 2022.

Source: Ministry of Environment

Additionally, a water resource satellite to monitor water resources and water disasters will be developed by 2025. This 500 kg-class satellite can observe water resource information such as floods and droughts twice a day within an observation width of 120 km regardless of time or weather conditions.

It can broadly monitor floods, droughts, and algal blooms, and will be utilized for managing areas near the North Korean border and cooperation with Southeast Asian countries.

Development of a geostationary communication satellite to collect hydrological information is also underway.

The Ministry of Environment will conduct related preliminary research this year. From next year, it will invest 142.7 billion KRW to develop imaging radar.

Also, 15 billion KRW will be invested to build a national platform for satellite data utilization systems and water industry support strategies.

Source: Ministry of Environment

Furthermore, the flood risk maps, which have been viewed as drawings until now, will be built based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) starting next year, allowing easy online access.

The flood risk maps are provided to the central government and local governments and are used as basic data for comprehensive natural disaster mitigation plans and emergency response plan establishment.

From 2001 to 2016, flood risk maps were completed for national rivers such as the Han River, Nakdong River, and Yeongsan River. Currently, flood risk maps for local rivers nationwide are being prepared.

Kim Dongjin, Director of the Water Resources Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, said, "We will take the lead in protecting the lives and property of the people by including scientific flood management techniques along with dam and river maintenance plans as part of permanent flood management measures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.