Avert Magazine

Google expands AI-powered tools to identify natural hazards

November 10, 2022
By Avert staff

Google has expanded on its suite of artificial intelligence-powered tools that can help identify and map natural hazards such as floods, wildfires and hurricanes.

Tools include the new Google FloodHub, which shows forecasts for riverine floods in Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Angola, South Sudan, Namibia, Liberia, South Africa.

In Canada, Google’s tools include wildfire boundaries detection. Using new AI models based on satellite imagery, Google shows a wildfire’s real-time location in Search and Maps in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and parts of Australia. Since July, the technology has been used to cover 30 wildfire events in Canada and the U.S.

Google tools are also zeroing in on hurricanes. Detailed forecasts appear on SOS Alerts in Search and Maps to show a storm’s predicted trajectory. As well, Google’s machine learning can analyze satellite imagery after disasters to help identify which areas need help. According to Google, when Hurricane Ian hit Florida in September, this technology was deployed in partnership with Google.org grantee GiveDirectly to allocate aid to those most affected.

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Learn more about the tools here.


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