Pioneering research: KIT presents AI-supported flood forecasts

Pioneering research: KIT presents AI-supported flood forecasts

On Monday, July 14, 2025, the event “KIT in the Town Hall” will take place in Karlsruhe City Hall. A central topic of the event is the current research projects of the KIT MathSEE Center, which bundles interdisciplinary mathematical research. At 6:30 p.m., Professor Melanie Schienle, the center's scientific spokesperson, and other experts will present new advances in the field of flood predictions, mathematical models and wave phenomena. Participation is free and registration is not required, making the event open to the public, reports KIT.

Particular attention will be paid to the lecture by Dr. Ralf Loritz on AI-supported flood forecasts as part of the KI-HopE-De project. He will show how artificial intelligence can play a crucial role in early warning of flood events in order to minimize the consequences for affected regions. At a global level, Google's research department has also developed an AI model capable of producing flood forecasts based on publicly available weather data without relying on measuring stations. This model can provide reliable forecasts as early as five days before a flood event, achieving similar accuracy to existing systems, which can often only warn a few hours before the event.

Scientific knowledge and advances

Additionally, Professor Sebastian Krumscheid will talk about uncertainties in mathematical models, while Dr. Björn de Rijk will address the mathematical modeling and control of wave phenomena. A standing reception after the lectures offers participants the opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss with the speakers.

The event takes place as part of the “KIT in the Town Hall” series, which has been running for over 20 years and is coordinated by the FORUM Science and Society. In this context, KIT, as a research university in the Helmholtz Association, is closely linked to addressing global challenges in energy, mobility and information. Bringing together ideas from a wide range of disciplines is the key to solving such complex challenges.

Breakthrough in AI research

The relevance of AI in weather forecasting is also supported by the latest developments from the German Weather Service (DWD). The DWD recently achieved a breakthrough by successfully integrating weather observation data into forecast models using only artificial intelligence. President Prof. Dr. Sarah Jones highlights the scientific and technical leadership of the DWD. The newly developed data assimilation scheme shows promising approaches to optimization and increasing efficiency in weather forecasting.

DWD's AI-Var system integrates the data assimilation process directly into neural networks, resulting in reduced computational costs while accelerating the analysis and prediction processes. Experts from European weather services have already given positive feedback on the new methods. These technologies represent a crucial building block for the future of weather forecasting.

In summary, the event on July 14, 2025 will not only provide a platform for presenting innovative research in the field of mathematical models and flood forecasting, but also highlight the profound impact of artificial intelligence on various sectors, including flood protection.

The accompanying exhibition of the KIT Center MathSEE will be on view from July 14th to 16th, 2025 on the first floor of the town hall; admission is also free.