We are excited to announce that SaferPlaces will be in Vienna from 4 to 8 of May, actively participating in the EGU General Assembly 2026 (EGU26) one of the most important global events for geosciences, climate research, and disaster risk management.
This year, SaferPlaces will showcase a strong portfolio of cutting-edge research and technological innovation, highlighting our latest developments in AI-driven flood risk intelligence, satellite-based analysis, digital twins, and next-generation modelling approaches.
Our team will contribute across multiple sessions, presenting advancements that push the boundaries of how we understand, predict, and manage flood risk in a changing climate.

Read the details of all our contributions.

 

Pushing the Boundaries of Urban Flood Modelling

Urban flooding remains one of the most complex and rapidly evolving challenges in climate adaptation. SaferPlaces introduces a new approach designed to improve both accuracy and scalability in pluvial flood simulation. This method enhances the way digital elevation models (DEMs) represent water accumulation and flow, improving both computational efficiency and realism in pluvial flood simulations, key for urban planning and emergency preparedness.

Kinematic Hierarchical Filling-and-Spilling Algorithm for Advanced DEM-based Modelling of Pluvial Flooding in Urban Areas
📍 Thu, 07 May | 08:47–08:49 (CEST) – PICO spot 4

 

Democratising Flood Intelligence with Agentic AI

SaferPlaces’ work on Agentic AI focuses on lowering barriers’ to access flood risk insights. By combining adaptive AI systems with scalable data pipelines, this approach enables broader access to high-resolution risk information, supporting decision-making across institutions, regions, and sectors.

SaferPlaces Agentic AI: Democratising Global Flood Risk Intelligence for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
📍 Fri, 08 May | 17:30–17:40 (CEST) – Room 1.31/32

 

Satellite-powered flood forensic analysis

Satellite data continues to play a critical role in disaster response and recovery. Through its SaferSat toolbox, SaferPlaces demonstrates how Sentinel-1 imagery can be operationalised for real-world applications: the system enables multi-temporal flood mapping, water depth estimation, and impact assessment, turning raw satellite signals into meaningful insights for emergency management and long-term planning.

SaferSat: Operational Sentinel-1 Toolbox for Multi-Temporal Flood Mapping and Impact Assessment
📍 Fri, 08 May | 11:20–11:30 (CEST) – Room B

 

Collaborative Innovation through the DIRECTED Project

SaferPlaces is also contributing to a broader ecosystem of interoperable disaster risk management solutions through the DIRECTED Project. At EGU26, multiple contributions will explore how governance frameworks, digital infrastructures, and communication strategies can be aligned to support more coordinated and effective responses to climate risks:

  • Co-developing interoperable DRM solutions for climate resilience
    📍 Mon, 04 May | 16:50–17:00 – Room 1.15/16
  • Cloud-Based DataFabric for multi-hazard nowcasting (Emilia-Romagna case study)
    📍 Mon, 04 May | 17:40–17:50 – Room 1.15/16
  • Risk-Tandem Framework for climate adaptation (Poster)
    📍 Fri, 08 May | 16:15–18:00 – Hall X3

 

Across all sessions emerges our mission of transforming complex environmental data into tools that support real-world decisions. Whether through AI-powered analytics, advanced modelling techniques, or satellite-driven insights, SaferPlaces’ work reflects a broader transition toward proactive, intelligence-led disaster risk management, where communities are better equipped not just to respond to hazards, but to anticipate and reduce them

EGU26 offers a unique opportunity to connect science, technology, and policy. For SaferPlaces, it represents a moment to engage with researchers, institutions, and industry partners working at the forefront of climate resilience. As the event approaches, the focus is clear: accelerating collaboration, advancing innovation, and ensuring that cutting-edge research translates into safer, more resilient communities.

📩 Attending EGU26? We’d love to meet in Vienna and explore potential collaborations.