IIT Bombay launches AI weather App for real-time flood forecasting

In a major leap toward enhancing urban resilience against flooding, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) has unveiled an innovative hyperlocal weather forecasting system for Mumbai. This platform provides precise predictions for rainfall and flood conditions at a neighbourhood level, addressing the city's unique geography and climate challenges.

Developed with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) Centre for Municipal Capacity Building and Research (MCMCR), the new system is accessible to the public through the Mumbai Flood App, available on Android. The initiative is a part of the HDFC-ERGO IIT Bombay (HE-IITB) Innovation Lab, which receives funding from HDFC ERGO.

The system augments existing weather data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), including observatories in Colaba, Santacruz, and Marine Lines, and over 60 automatic weather stations in Mumbai and its suburbs. Using AI and machine learning models, the forecasting model provides hourly rainfall predictions for the next 24 hours and daily forecasts for the next three days.

According to Subimal Ghosh, convener of the climate studies program at IIT-B, the app empowers residents with vital information. “We’ve developed a model for hyperlocal forecasting at IIT-B. Now, this is available for the public through an app and a web portal,” he stated. The portal is at mumbaiflood.in, offers features including flood alerts based on water level measurements from key locations like the Mithi River and Vakola Nala.

The app includes detailed weather forecasts and real-time data from nine water-level monitoring stations in flood-prone areas, providing near-real-time updates on waterlogging. It also has a crowdsourcing feature for users to report flooding, contributing to a community effort to manage flood risks.

The app launch comes at a crucial time, as heavy rainfall in Mumbai has caused significant flooding, traffic disruptions, and flight diversions. On September 25, 2024, the city experienced severe rain, prompting the IMD to issue an alert for extremely heavy rainfall until Thursday evening. Several suburbs, particularly Mulund, recorded substantial precipitation, inundating low-lying areas and causing major inconveniences for residents.

Due to adverse conditions, the Mumbai municipal agency announced a holiday for schools and colleges to ensure student safety. Public transport, including local trains and buses, faced significant delays and disruptions. Airlines like SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Vistara reported flight diversions due to bad weather at Mumbai Airport, with Vistara’s flights UK534 from Hyderabad and UK941 from Delhi experiencing major route alterations.

A woman fell into an open manhole in Andheri during the flooding and was later pronounced dead. Authorities searched for her body.

As Mumbai grapples with flooding issues, IIT Bombay's new platform represents a proactive step toward using technology for improved disaster preparedness and urban planning. Ghosh emphasized community involvement, stating, "This is an app made for Mumbaikars by Mumbaikars. The data we collect will help the government prepare a flood management plan for next season."