FloodLink is a preventive flood alert system that uses real-time data to detect rising water levels and warn urban communities before flooding disasters strike.
FloodLink is a real-time flood alert system designed to prevent damage from the $120 billion in annual global flood losses. It uses local sensors, public data, and community reports to trigger alerts via solar-powered devices with sound and light—working even without internet. A four-part system architecture processes data, predicts risk, issues alerts, and updates models with user feedback. Built for affordability and scale, FloodLink’s devices are ready for mass deployment and aim to protect thousands in high-risk areas through accurate, community-driven early warnings.
TYPE
Risk preparedness
LOCATION
Global
IMPACT
$120 billion per year
FloodLink is an advanced early warning system designed to deliver real-time, preventive flood alerts using a combination of hyperlocal sensors, public data, and community reports. FloodLink addresses the $120 billion in annual global flood-related damages by filling critical gaps in existing alert systems, which are often delayed, inaccessible, or overly reliant on satellite data. By deploying on-site, solar-powered devices equipped with sound and light alerts — operable even without internet or smartphones — FloodLink ensures that at-risk communities receive clear, immediate warnings. These physical alerts are complemented by app-based notifications when connectivity is available, allowing for redundancy and broader coverage.
Technically, FloodLink operates through a four-layered architecture: (1) sensor and data input, (2) a risk engine that uses threshold-based models, (3) an action layer that triggers local and digital alerts, and (4) a feedback loop that retrains the model using real-time community input. Devices are strategically installed in flood-prone urban and rural areas — such as low-lying neighborhoods, riverfront communities, and underserved regions lacking conventional infrastructure. Environmental monitoring units measure river levels and soil moisture, while community alert beacons communicate risk using a universal color code system (green, orange, red, flashing red) and only sound alarms at the highest risk level to prevent fatigue. This system has proven capable of achieving polygon-level risk resolution and can integrate new data sources like satellite imagery or GIS layers over time.
FloodLink’s design prioritizes scalability, affordability, and community involvement. Manufactured in-house by LAIA’s affiliated partners in India, the devices are low-cost, modular, and ready for mass deployment. The system is already prepared for pilot operations in high-risk zones like Hurley, Virginia, with goals of reaching 5,000+ residents and potentially preventing $2 million in damages by 2026. Community engagement is built into the system: residents can scan a QR code to submit flood reports, which are geotagged, timestamped, and used to refine the predictive model. This participatory approach improves alert accuracy, fosters local trust, and enhances resilience — making FloodLink a groundbreaking model for flood risk mitigation worldwide.
