The Andhra Pradesh Government has launched City Flood Alert, an advanced technology platform to predict urban flooding. Developed by the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS), the programme is part of the State’s initiative towards building climate-resilient cities, enabling authorities to take preventive action well before disaster strikes.The RTGS AWARE Division, working jointly with the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) and experts from IIT Gandhinagar, has developed the platform. Integrating artificial intelligence, satellite-based terrain mapping, predictive analytics and hydrological modelling, the system delivers highly accurate flood forecasts and real-time early warnings for urban areas. “The initiative, launched under the vision of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, reflects the State’s commitment to leveraging technology for proactive disaster management and strengthening urban resilience,’’ RTGS said in a release on Sunday. Digital ShieldVijayawada, one of Andhra Pradesh’s fastest-growing cities, has long battled recurring floods, particularly from the Budameru stream, which frequently inundated low-lying areas during heavy rainfall. To address this challenge, RTGS has developed a comprehensive City Flood Alert platform capable of identifying vulnerable locations, forecasting flood risks and automatically alerting field officials before flooding occurs.The system provides Rainfall forecasts up to 48 hours in advance Flash flood predictions up to six hours before occurrence, ward-level flood hotspot identification, automated early warning alerts to the government officialsThe platform functions on a high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) created using satellite imagery. RTGS has digitally mapped Vijayawada ward by ward, identifying terrain elevations, drainage networks and flood-prone zones. The predictive flood model has been built using nearly three decades of historical Budameru flood data, enabling the system to simulate flood behaviour under different rainfall scenarios and forecast potential inundation with remarkable precision. Beyond forecasting flooded locations, the platform also pinpoints drainage channels where silt accumulation could trigger waterlogging and backflow, allowing preventive maintenance before heavy rains.Once a potential flood threat is detected, the City Flood Alert platform automatically generates alerts and shares actionable intelligence with the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA). Leveraging this real-time information, APSDMA will strategically utilise the data to issue timely warnings and advisories well in advance to the officials. Published on July 26, 2026