Can technology help us fight flooding in cities?

This episode of The Climate Question explores how emerging technologies like drones, satellite imagery, and artificial intelligence are being used to combat urban flooding—particularly in vulnerable informal settlements. The story begins with the catastrophic 2024 floods in Porto Alegre, Brazil, where over half a million people lost power and clean water, and crocodiles were spotted in the city center. In response, architect Rodrigo Roca and the Responsive Cities Institute created a real-time digital map to track shelters, needs, and flood zones, centralizing critical data for emergency response. Across the Atlantic, Dr. Caroline Gewert in the Netherlands highlights how satellite and drone data are transforming flood risk assessment, especially in rapidly growing cities with limited infrastructure. The episode then shifts to Johannesburg’s Alexandra Township, where South Africa Flying Labs is training local youth—especially young women—to operate drones and use AI to map informal settlements, predict flood impacts, and prepare for disasters before they strike. These tools not only improve emergency planning but also empower communities with local knowledge and digital skills. While AI and drones are still evolving, the episode emphasizes that human oversight remains essential, and the most powerful solutions emerge when technology is co-created with communities.