EU Support for the Project Focusing on AI-Based Flood Early Warning System and Floodable Park Construction in the Black Sea Region

The project led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Ekmekcioğlu, a faculty member at the Disaster Management Institute, has been awarded funding from the European Union under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Cross-Border Cooperation Programme.

Coordinated by Istanbul Technical University (ITU), the consortium includes the Çatalca District Governorship from Türkiye, the Municipality of Orestiada from Greece, and the Municipality of Lanchkhuti from Georgia. The project titled “Leveraging Trans-Boundary AI-Based Early Warning Platform for Flood Risk Management Under Climate Change (FLOODRISK)” will be implemented over 24 months with a total budget of €1,663,935.60. Within this budget, ITU has been allocated share amounts to €479,381.40.

AI-Based flood early warning system targeted for the Black Sea Region

The project aims to establish an AI-based flood early warning system in the Black Sea Basin, taking the impacts of climate change into account. As the lead partner of the consortium, Istanbul Technical University (ITU) will be responsible for implementing AI-based applications and conducting R&D activities. ITU will also establish an early warning mechanism that uses various communication techniques to notify residents living in flood-prone areas of the partner cities before flood events occur. In addition, the project will assess the effectiveness of nature-based solutions (NbS) in reducing flood risks, and floodable parks will be constructed in each partner country. Key project objectives include establishing a joint data collection and management platform, developing AI-supported flood early warning systems, promoting NbS, conducting stakeholder engagement and capacity-building activities, and implementing GIS-based mapping, digital sessions, workshops, training programs, and simulation exercises.

Nature-Based Solutions will be promoted in partner countries 

The R&D activities aimed at to be conducted within this project will also be promoted by field implementations. In this context, floodable parks, multifunctional public spaces designed to safely manage urban flooding while offering communities nature-integrated, breathable environments, will be constructed in the three partner countries. Aligned with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), the project will enhance disaster resilience through the development of innovative infrastructure such as AI-based early warning systems and NbS. In line with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), it aims to reduce flood risks and strengthen urban safety through community-based adaptation strategies. Additionally, under SDG 13 (Climate Action), the project will contribute to strengthening climate change adaptation at the regional level by advancing science-based measures.