{"id":1928,"date":"2026-08-18T18:15:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T09:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/?post_type=news&#038;p=1928"},"modified":"2026-08-18T18:42:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T09:42:09","slug":"aqunia-develops-global-scale-flood-forecasting-system-aqunia-flood","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/vi\/news\/aqunia-develops-global-scale-flood-forecasting-system-aqunia-flood\/","title":{"rendered":"Aqunia Develops Global-Scale Flood Forecasting System &#8216;Aqunia Flood&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Covering Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania at Approximately 5km Resolution, with Support for Regional Localization<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Aqunia Inc.&nbsp;(Headquarters: Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Satoru Demoto; hereinafter \u201cAqunia\u201d) has developed &#8220;Aqunia Flood,&#8221; a global-scale flood forecasting system covering extensive regions.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aqunia Flood automatically ingests forecast data regularly published by meteorological agencies and performs real-time hydrological simulations to provide river water level and flood inundation outlooks up to three days in advance. The system covers extensive areas across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania, performing integrated calculations at an approximately 5 km spatial resolution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aqunia welcomes inquiries from government agencies, local authorities, and private sector clients interested in using the system. In response to specific requirements, Aqunia can also deliver higher-resolution, higher-accuracy forecasts tailored to specific target areas using its proprietary localization technology (patent pending).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1372\" src=\"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aqunia-Flood_ENG-scaled.png\" alt=\"aqunia flood eng\" class=\"wp-image-1931\" title=\"Aqunia Develops Global-Scale Flood Forecasting System &#039;Aqunia Flood&#039;\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Background: The Need for Early Warning Systems Amid Climate Change, and Implementation Barriers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flooding caused by overflowing rivers is estimated to result in more than 6,000 fatalities globally each year (based on the annual average number of flood fatalities from 2021 to 2025 in EM-DAT). As climate change accelerates, these impacts are expanding further across various regions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In response to this growing threat, the United Nations launched the &#8220;Early Warnings for All&#8221; initiative, aiming to ensure everyone on Earth is protected by Early Warning Systems (EWS) by 2027. Early warning is considered one of the most cost-effective climate adaptation measures, with estimates suggesting that delivering warnings 24 hours in advance can reduce damage by approximately 30% (Source: Global Commission on Adaptation, Adapt Now, 2019). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, examples of forecasting effectively integrated into EWS at a national level remain limited. A key structural barrier is the scarcity of forecasting platforms capable of seamless, large-scale coverage, making it difficult to deploy systems across entire nations. While detailed models built for individual rivers offer high precision, their implementation requires significant time and cost. Conversely, broad-coverage models often lack the spatial resolution necessary to support local operational decision-making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, Japanese disaster prevention technologies are designated as a key area for international expansion under &#8220;Disaster Prevention and National Resilience&#8221;\u2014one of the 17 strategic fields in Japan\u2019s Growth Strategy (approved by the Cabinet on July 21, 2026). Observation and early warning systems for water-related disasters represent a core component of this strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About &#8220;Aqunia Flood&#8221;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where does rainfall land, how does it flow across the surface and through the soil, how does it navigate river channels, and where does it overflow? Aqunia Flood calculates this entire sequence through advanced modeling, displaying the results directly on an interactive map. Forecasts are recalculated periodically in sync with updated weather data from external meteorological agencies, providing up-to-date outlooks that reflect recent conditions. By comparing current simulations with historical data, users can easily track rising risk levels and emerging trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Features<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Covers a broad area including Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania at a spatial resolution of approximately 5 km. Forecast information can be accessed without the need to develop an individual model for each country or local government. The system also supports forecasting for transboundary rivers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In addition to river water levels, the system provides inundation areas resulting from flooding. Users can identify, at a broad regional scale, which rivers are experiencing rising water levels and which areas may be inundated.<br>Note: When higher-accuracy, higher-resolution forecasts (e.g., 90 m mesh) are required for a specific area, Aqunia can provide localized forecasting by applying its localization technology (patent pending).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provides forecasts up to three days in advance, covering the time required for practical responses such as making evacuation decisions and pre-positioning equipment and other resources, including situations spanning weekends.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Available through web browsers on PCs and smartphones.<br>A dedicated smartphone app is planned for a future release.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*Note regarding Japan coverage: While Japan is included within the calculation domain, data access within Japan is currently limited to validation purposes, with real-time forecast data masked. Following the acquisition of the Flood Forecasting Business License (currently under application), service availability in Japan will begin in accordance with the Meteorological Services Act, following individual briefings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Target Users and Implementation Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aqunia Flood is designed for organizations responsible for flood preparedness, including national government agencies, local municipalities, and risk management\/BCP departments of infrastructure operators and manufacturing companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The onboarding process begins with an inquiry to discuss user objectives and requirements, followed by account issuance. Users can immediately view the broad-coverage forecast. For those seeking targeted validation, higher resolution, or calibration using local datasets, Aqunia delivers customized solutions through its localization service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During localization, Aqunia utilizes its proprietary technology (patent pending). Combining AI and physical hydrological models, this technology enhances forecasting performance and delivers high-resolution inundation predictions down to a 90m mesh\u2014or to the maximum resolution of available local Digital Elevation Models (DEM)\u2014while maintaining consistency with the broader regional forecast. Where local observational data is available, it can also be ingested to further improve accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Technical Foundation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aqunia Flood leverages research outcomes in land surface hydrologic cycle simulation technology developed at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo. By combining this foundation with Aqunia\u2019s proprietary localization technology, the system is delivered as a tailored product that meets the specific requirements of individual nations and organizations. By pairing a platform that performs seamless, large-scale calculations with localization technology that adapts models to local realities, Aqunia aims to bridge the gap between academic research and field-level implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Note: Aqunia Flood utilizes forecast data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) as part of its meteorological input data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Current Initiatives and  Future Outlook<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aqunia has already conducted pilot demonstrations using Aqunia Flood in several countries across Southeast Asia and Central Asia. Moving forward, Aqunia will accelerate efforts through partnerships with national government agencies, international organizations, and corporate partners to integrate the system directly into local operational workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Aqunia Inc.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aqunia Inc. is a climate-tech startup that utilizes the research outcomes of JAXA and the University of Tokyo as the core framework for its forecasting system. Combined with its proprietary localization technology, Aqunia delivers tailored forecasting aligned with the unique characteristics of various countries and regions. Even for governments and administrative agencies in the Global South where ground-based observation networks are underdeveloped, Aqunia supports decision-making for disaster mitigation, water scarcity management, and climate adaptation through heavy rain\/flood forecasting, water resource predictions, and mid-to-long-term climate risk assessments. The company aims to advance the social implementation of EWS and forecasting technologies worldwide while promoting the international expansion of Japanese disaster prevention technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u25a0 S\u01a1 l\u01b0\u1ee3c v\u1ec1 c\u00f4ng ty<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Company Name<\/strong><\/td><td>Aqunia Inc. (\u682a\u5f0f\u4f1a\u793eAqunia)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Representative Director<\/strong><\/td><td>Satoru Demoto, Founder &amp; CEO<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Established<\/strong><\/td><td>August 2025<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Headquarters<\/strong><\/td><td>Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Business<\/strong><\/td><td>Development of global flood, water resource, and climate change risk prediction systems; societal implementation through related consulting services<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Website<\/strong><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/vi\/\">https:\/\/aqunia.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Li\u00ean h\u1ec7 v\u1edbi ch\u00fang t\u00f4i<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aqunia welcomes inquiries from government agencies, international organizations, local municipalities, and private enterprises interested in the system. Consultation is also available for organizations seeking to use the platform for targeted regional validation. Additionally, Aqunia invites partnership inquiries from engineering and construction consultancies engaged in international development projects worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/vi\/contact\/\">Li\u00ean h\u1ec7<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Covering Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania at Approximately 5km Resolution, with Support for Regional Localization Aqunia Inc.&nbsp;(Headquarters: Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1931,"template":"","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"news_cat":[10,6],"class_list":["post-1928","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news_cat-featured","news_cat-press-release"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/aqunia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aqunia-Flood_ENG-scaled.png",2560,1372,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/aqunia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aqunia-Flood_ENG-scaled.png",150,80,false],"medium":["https:\/\/aqunia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aqunia-Flood_ENG-scaled.png",300,161,false],"medium_large":["https:\/\/aqunia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aqunia-Flood_ENG-scaled.png",768,412,false],"large":["https:\/\/aqunia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aqunia-Flood_ENG-scaled.png",1024,549,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/aqunia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aqunia-Flood_ENG-scaled.png",1536,823,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/aqunia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aqunia-Flood_ENG-scaled.png",2048,1098,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/aqunia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aqunia-Flood_ENG-scaled.png",18,10,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Hibiki Yasui","author_link":"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/vi\/author\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Covering Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania at Approximately 5km Resolution, with Support for Regional Localization Aqunia Inc.&nbsp;(Headquarters: Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; [&hellip;]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/1928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aqunia.com\/vi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news_cat?post=1928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}