Researchers demo real-time flood-sensing technology

Sydney researchers have proven the effectiveness of a real-time water-level and rainfall-sensing technology that utilises existing mobile phone networks, intended to combat the danger posed by flooding in Australia and overseas.

In a project supported by the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) and NSW Government, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) researchers working with industry partner TPG Telecom have completed field trials demonstrating the AI-driven processing of weather data derived from 5G mobile networks in conjunction with a flood digital twin — a virtual replica that mirrors its real-world counterpart. By extracting localised rainfall, water levels and river flows using signals transmitted on the network, the technology is claimed to deliver unprecedented accuracy in flood monitoring and prediction.

“By collaborating with NSW SES and TPG Telecom, we have become the first to translate research into practice, demonstrating that the technology works in the real world in the field trials that have been conducted on the Parramatta and Georges Rivers,” said UTS Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Parfitt.

“The work continues in the TPG-UTS Network Sensing Lab, where researchers are advancing the next stage of research and development that will support large-scale deployment of the technology, for which both UTS and TPG have filed patents.”

NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing said the Smart Flood and Sensing Intelligence project shines a light on the use of technology for operational intelligence and enhanced response coordination.

“This technology has the potential to provide the NSW SES with next-level capabilities such as accurate real-time information and predictive intelligence, which could help better inform our warnings and response,” Wassing said.

“While there is more testing to be done, this could revolutionise our command centres, fast-track intelligence, better inform operational posturing and save lives in the future.”

TPG Telecom CTO Giovanni Chiarelli said his company is proud to be UTS’s partner to pioneer network sensing technology for flood management.

“The success of the Smart Flood and Storm Intelligence project provided us with a solid foundation to mature the technology in our commercial networks,” Chiarelli said. “Thanks to the TPG-UTS Network Sensing Lab, we are now in a globally leading position to unleash the potential power of mobile phone networks to sense the world, manage risks caused by climate change, and enhance the resilience of our societies.”

Project leader Distinguished Professor Jay Guo, Director of the UTS-based Global Big Data Technologies Centre, said the capacity of existing network infrastructure to sense what is happening in the physical environment provides both a highly accurate and sustainable solution to flood monitoring.

“Nothing new needs to be built; no dedicated sensors for this purpose need to be deployed,” Guo said.

“We’ve proved that bouncing signals from mobile phone towers onto bodies of water can detect changes, and this data, when analysed and visualised using artificial intelligence, can predict risks to infrastructure and communities, paving the way for rapid and targeted alerts to affected communities.

“The next stage is to advance the reliability and adaptability of 5G-enabled flood-sensing systems, ensuring consistent performance in sparse-data and degraded-network environments through adaptive system design and resilient architecture.

“Integral to that will be extending the collaboration with NSW spatial services and potentially other major mobile network providers, ensuring sufficient spatial data, comprehensive 5G coverage, and long-term scalability of the sensing system.”

Image caption: Associate Professor Wenjing Jia demonstrates the flood digital twin.