Flooding in Sweden — driven by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, and coastal surges — poses increasing risks to critical infrastructure, transport networks, and population centres. Current systems rely on hydrological models and static flood maps, which often lack real-time visibility during fast-changing events. At the same time, agencies such as Naturvårdsverket are responsible for monitoring surface water and stormwater (dagvatten) across the landscape, work that becomes especially urgent when extreme weather pushes water masses beyond normal boundaries.
In this challenge, teams will explore how satellite Earth Observation data can be used to rapidly identify floods and map water extent in near real-time. By combining radar imagery from Sentinel-1 — which penetrates clouds and works at night — with optical data from Sentinel-2 and Sweden’s high-resolution national elevation model (provided by Lantmäteriet), participants can develop solutions such as:
- Dynamic flood maps that show where water is accumulating and how its extent changes over time
- Water depth estimates derived from satellite data fused with elevation models
- Impact assessments that overlay flood extent on roads, railways, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure
- Decision-support tools for emergency services, municipalities, and agencies like Naturvårdsverket to prioritise response efforts
Naturvårdsverket plays a central role in Sweden’s environmental monitoring, including oversight of surface water bodies and the environmental impact of stormwater runoff. Improved satellite-based mapping of water masses in the landscape would directly support their ability to track changes, assess environmental consequences, and coordinate with other authorities during and after extreme weather events.
The goal here could be to contribute to faster, more accurate situational awareness during extreme weather — enabling better-informed decisions for both civil crisis management and total defence.