Extreme weather events are increasing worldwide. Even during periods of drought, the risk of heavy rainfall and potential flooding remains a constant threat. Experiences from past flood disasters repeatedly show us that floods often occur faster than expected. However, those who are informed in time can get ahead of the wave and maintain control of the situation. This is precisely where alitiq comes in: We empower you to act proactively instead of being caught off guard by events.
The Potential of Predictive Flood Forecasts
At alitiq, we are convinced that this element of surprise doesn’t have to be! We use AI-powered processes to deliver flood forecasts with a lead time of at least five days. This provides those affected and disaster relief organizations with crucial additional preparation time. This extended warning period allows for earlier reaction, more targeted action, significant minimization of damage, and, most importantly, saving lives.
Concrete Prevention Measures Through Extended Warning Time
An extended warning time provided by the alitiq early warning system enables a range of effective prevention measures that can make the difference between disaster and a manageable crisis:
- Planning and Executing Evacuations: With several days of lead time, evacuation routes can be established, collection points organized, and vulnerable individuals, especially those with limited mobility, can be brought to safety early. This minimizes panic and ensures an orderly process.
- Protecting Infrastructure and Assets: Businesses and private households have sufficient time to move belongings to higher ground, fill and place sandbags, or install waterproof barriers. Critical infrastructure such as substations or sewage treatment plants can be secured or emergency-shutdown to prevent long-term outages.
- Mobilizing and Coordinating Emergency Services: Fire departments, THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief), and other aid organizations can position personnel and equipment at strategic points early. This accelerates response in an emergency and increases the effectiveness of rescue and recovery operations.
- Communication and Information for the Population: Authorities can inform the public in detail about the impending danger, provide behavioral guidelines, and communicate contact points. This builds trust and enables citizens to take precautionary measures responsibly.
- Optimizing Resource Management: Necessary resources such as boats, pumps, emergency generators, and provisions can be provided and distributed as needed before roads become impassable.
Our Early Warning System: A Synergy of Data and Expertise
The alitiq early warning system is based on a coordinated warning cascade and is an innovative solution that combines various disciplines to deliver precise and reliable forecasts:
- Weather Data: Continuous analysis of current and future weather conditions using the best weather models worldwide.
- Environmental Sciences: Integration of hydrological and geological factors for precise runoff and water level prediction.
- Socio-economic Impacts: Consideration of potential consequences for communities and the economy.
- Behavioral Research: Understanding human reactions in crisis situations to optimize communication.
Through this comprehensive integration, we ensure that our forecasts are not only technically sound but also practically relevant. alitiq covers all steps of this warning cascade, up to the final support of decision-makers.
Your Advantages with alitiq: More Safety, More Control
With the alitiq early warning system, you benefit from a series of decisive advantages:
- Extended Warning Time: A lead time of at least five days allows for comprehensive prevention measures.
- Continuous Analysis: Ongoing evaluation of the weather situation and its potential impact on water levels in your region.
- Ongoing Forecast Optimization: Through the use of machine learning, our models are continuously refined, and their accuracy improved. We use data from over 10,000 weather stations worldwide and have collected over 6 billion weather forecasts since 2020 to ensure high forecast accuracy.
- Decision Support: Responsible parties receive well-founded information to support their decision-making in critical situations.
- Comprehensive Personal Consultation: In the event of a flood, we offer detailed telephone consultation and support to ensure a coordinated response.
To provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the hazard situation, alitiq also provides detailed data and visualizations in addition to personal consultation. This includes current water level data from local gauges including history and ten-day outlooks, location-specific flood forecasts, proactive notifications via email and SMS, rain radar with short-term forecasts, analyses of past events, integration of official DWD (German Weather Service) warnings, a traffic light system for quick hazard level assessment, and regular updates of meteorological risk assessments.
Communication as the Core of Our Offering
We know that even the best forecast loses its value if the information does not reach decision-makers in a timely and understandable manner. Therefore, communication is an essential part of our offering. Coordination is carried out in close cooperation with the responsible parties in districts and municipalities, and information is provided at an appropriate frequency via email and, if necessary, SMS. Supplementary telephone consultation in the event of a flood is provided by arrangement and type of commission, to clarify specific questions and coordinate measures. This coordinated and continuous communication is crucial to always provide the necessary information during a dynamic flood situation and to ensure smooth coordination of aid measures.
How We Differ from the Competition
Our solution stands out due to the use of AI-based forecasting models that enable more precise and longer warning times. Unlike many other systems, which often rely on less dynamic or only historical data, alitiq integrates state-of-the-art machine learning methods to continuously optimize forecasts. Furthermore, we optionally offer comprehensive consultation through our large network of experienced consulting meteorologists who are available to you by phone in a crisis – if needed, around the clock. This personal expert support, coupled with our expertise in communicating weather hazards, is a decisive advantage. Our powerful IT infrastructure ensures the reliability of our service at all times, even under extreme conditions. We specialize in the combination of meteorology and data science, which gives us a unique ability to understand and optimize weather-related influences on complex processes.
Summary
The alitiq early warning system revolutionizes flood protection through AI-powered forecasts with at least five days of lead time. This enables comprehensive prevention measures such as orderly evacuations, the protection of infrastructure and assets, the efficient mobilization of emergency services, and proactive public information. By combining weather data, environmental sciences, and behavioral research, supported by machine learning, and by providing precise data and visualizations, alitiq offers a reliable basis for decision-making. Close and needs-based communication with those responsible is a central component of our offering to save lives and significantly reduce damage.
