SAAI project kicks off to develop an advanced flood warning system in Catalonia

The Advanced Flood Warning System (SAAI) project, coordinated by the Center for Applied Research in Hydrometeorology (CRAHI) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech (UPC), was presented on October 20, 2025, within the framework of the technical workshop "For the analysis of the past, present and future of Research, Development and Innovation", organized by the Catalan Water Agency (ACA).

The presentation was delivered by Erika R. Meléndez Landaverde, researcher at CRAHI-UPC and principal investigator of the project, who presented the objectives, scope, and main lines of action of this applied research project, designed to improve preparedness and response to flood events in Catalonia.

SAAI is one of the projects funded by the ACA under the 2024 R&D&I funding call in the flood risk management area, and it responds to the growing need for advanced tools in the face of the increasing frequency and intensity of flood events, a phenomenon exacerbated by climate change.

During her presentation, Meléndez emphasized that the project adopts an integrated risk approach, going beyond purely meteorological analysis and incorporating impacts on territory and population as key elements for emergency management.

Among the main objectives of SAAI are the development of an advanced real-time early warning system based on radar data and meteorological models, the integration of artificial intelligence functionalities to promote citizen participation in the collection of local data, and the creation of digital platforms —both web-based and mobile— for information visualization and decision support in the stages prior to emergency situations.

Launched in July 2025 and with a planned duration of two years, SAAI will be validated through real-time demonstrations in two pilot municipalities. The experience gained will serve as the basis for developing an Implementation Manual aimed at facilitating the replicability of the system in other municipalities across Catalonia.