AI-powered smart system boosts Jinan's flood preparedness

As Jinan steps up its flood emergency response amid heavy rainfall, an AI-powered smart city system developed by Jinan-based Synthesis Electronic Technology Co Ltd has entered full emergency operation.

The platform integrates weather forecasting, flood simulation, risk assessment, real-time monitoring, and emergency response, enabling authorities to identify risks earlier and respond more effectively.

Technicians monitor the operation of an AI-powered urban management system at a control center. [Photo/Dazhong Website]

More than 1,000 monitoring devices collect data on water levels, river flow, and precipitation across major water conservancy projects, rivers, and flood-prone urban areas. The system also links more than 20,000 public surveillance cameras with dedicated monitoring networks for mountain flood zones and reservoirs.

Powered by edge AI computing, the platform analyzes conditions directly at monitoring sites, allowing it to detect rising water levels, blocked waterways, and dam deformation in real time and trigger automatic alerts within milliseconds, even if network connections are disrupted. AI algorithms also continuously assess road conditions, identify newly flooded areas, estimate flood depth, and detect stranded people or vehicles, helping emergency responders act more quickly.

Using a 5-by-5-kilometer rainfall grid and an urban flood prediction model, the system can forecast water depth at vulnerable locations up to 24 hours in advance. The forecasts generate risk maps that support evacuation planning, emergency supply pre-positioning, and rescue team deployment before severe flooding occurs.

（chinadaily.com.cn）