Bologna. Beating floods by using artificial intelligence to better manage risk and anticipate emergencies. This is precisely what the software developed by Ex Machina Italia, a Bologna-based company specializing in IT solutions and artificial intelligence, does. The system is called 'Airas,' an acronym for 'Artificial Intelligence Risk Assessment System,' and is a decision-support software for managing meteorological, hydrological, and geological events. It is currently in the pilot phase with several Italian municipalities, but Ex Machina wants to expand the trial. So the company is launching an appeal to local authorities in Emilia-Romagna. "We are seeking local governments interested in piloting 'Airas' in their own areas," Ex Machina says, "and contributing to the development of a technology that can make a difference in risk management and community protection."
The system is developed with the support of Cineca, which provides the necessary processing power, and combines various elements such as generative artificial intelligence, 'deep reasoning', historical documentation (for example post-event reports and ordinances) and certified territorial data. Each municipality or entity involved receives personalized recommendations from the software, calibrated on their emergency plans, local regulations and real-time information flows. Administrations can also access interactive maps with georeferenced intervention priorities, updated based on the latest available data.
In a recent case study, 'Airas' analyzed in a few minutes the impact of an event predicted by a hydrogeological alert bulletin on a residential area, automatically comparing historical data, official documentation and Civil Protection procedures. The system then provided targeted operational indications, supported by interactive and geo-referenced maps, which updated intervention priorities in real time. The software, based on Ex Machina's proprietary Cosmo 42 framework, "guarantees full adaptability to local regulations and interoperability with systems already in use", assures the company.
The idea of using AI to manage flood risks seems interesting, but I'm not sure it works as they hope. There are already so many problems with the current systems, maybe more time is needed to see real results.