Advancing Flood Forecasting Technologies to Prevent Damage and Mitigate Risk

A competitive, solution focussed, impact driven programme: researchers empowered by challenge-based funding are advancing real-time flood prediction technologies.

The system is designed to support communities as flood events grow more frequent and complex because of climate change. Bringing together experts across engineering, natural sciences, economics and data science, the project addresses the growing risks associated with extreme weather events. The team has identified imminent risks associated with coastal flooding while collaborating with key national stakeholders responsible for monitoring and managing flood risk, including the OPW, the Marine Institute, and Met Éireann (the project’s Societal Impact Champions). Through this work, the project is creating a cutting-edge, AI-powered flood forecasting system that integrates meteorological, tidal, and river flow data. By transforming fragmented data into clear, actionable insights, the system is designed to equip emergency managers and communities with the tools they need to prepare for and respond to flood threats more effectively.

The StopFloods team undertook extensive engagement with communities and local authorities to understand the real-world pressures of managing flood risk, particularly at low-lying coastal city areas. The team identified the urgent need to better understand the dynamics of floods and to provide measures to manage flood risks effectively and efficiently. Building on these insights, the project progressed through a stage-gated, competitive funding call, and was ultimately awarded “Prize Funding” of €1.3M in 2025 under the Digital Resilience Challenge of the National Challenge Fund.

Research Ireland mentoring and training has helped shape our solution. With the Prize Phase support over the next two years, we will complete a state-of-the-art AI-based compound flood forecasting system that will strengthen community resilience and improve preparedness for growing flood risks.

– Dr Indiana Olbert, StopFloods Team Lead, University of Galway

This funding is enabling system prototyping and the development of a novel real-time flood forecasting system capable of predicting compound flood events where risks from coasts, rivers and rain coincide. The system utilises Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, hydrodynamic modelling, statistical methods and machine learning to integrate multiple data streams into a unified, AI-powered decision tool that provides clear hyper-local predictions and actionable flood intelligence.

The StopFloods team continues to develop, scale and deploy its system to deliver a robust national and global solution to help communities and emergency managers to prepare for and respond to increasingly severe flood events.

StopFloods are driving Ireland’s leadership in climate forecasting and real-time flood-risk intelligence. Their work directly supports Ireland’s implementation of the EU Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risks [2007/60/EC]. It builds on and supports the efforts of the OPW and Flood Policy and Review Group 2004 who oversee the development and implementation of the Planning System and Flood Risk Management guidelines. Together, these efforts support national priorities around digital innovation and environmental resilience.

Who is involved?

University of Galway, Met Éireann, Cork City Council, OPW, the Marine Institute.

StopFloods is funded under the National Challenge Fund, a €65M research fund, established under the Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, coordinated and administered by Research Ireland.

Find out more:

The Irish TimesThe Irish Times    Project websiteProject website