Researchers at Aalborg University explore AI’s potential to predict natural disasters in Denmark

Can artificial intelligence be used to predict natural disasters, droughts, and floods by examining the water cycle both above and below the ground? A group of researchers at Aalborg University is investigating this question. Recent heavy rainfall and flooding have impacted several regions in Denmark and Central Europe, particularly areas in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland.

Maike Schumacher, a researcher at the Institute for Sustainability and Planning, has secured funding for a five-year research project. “We cannot prevent natural disasters, but through research and data analysis, we can prepare ourselves as best as possible for the future,” Schumacher stated.

The project aims to provide new scientific insights into the processes that lead to floods and droughts. By employing a combination of physics-based approaches, data-driven methods, and artificial intelligence, the team intends to map groundwater changes in the soil to create more reliable predictions of climate events.

Unlike meteorologists who focus on atmospheric weather developments, this research project centers on the water that is already present in the ground. “We need to better understand these processes so we can anticipate what will happen well in advance,” Schumacher added.

The research initiative seeks to better equip governments and communities for future severe weather events. Schumacher emphasized that while we cannot stop natural disasters, research and data analysis can help us prepare effectively. She noted the importance of additional research on climate change and stated that society has a responsibility in managing these challenges.

The project has received seven million kroner in funding from the Villum Foundation, which will support the hiring of two PhD students and a postdoctoral researcher.