IT4LIA and Ischia Engineers launch weather monitoring platforms

New digital tools have been introduced in Italy to improve the monitoring and prediction of extreme weather events and hydrogeological risks.

In Bologna, the IT4LIA AI Factory has developed the “Earth” platform. This initiative aims to provide high-resolution analysis and forecasts for phenomena such as exceptional rainfall, floods, landslides, and heatwaves. To overcome the challenge of fragmented meteorological data in Italy, the team created the IT-DPC-SRI dataset, which consolidates 16 years of radar observations from 2010 to the present. This standardized archive provides high-resolution data at one-kilometer intervals every five minutes. Using this data, the “Earth” team developed IRENE, a deep learning model designed for short-term precipitation forecasting, known as nowcasting.

On the island of Ischia, the Associazione Ingegneri Ischia has launched an interactive digital platform for citizens, professionals, and institutions. The tool uses a three-dimensional map of the island to visualize weather evolution in relation to local geography, from coastal areas to Mount Epomeo. The platform integrates real-time pluviometric data from four regional stations in Ischia, Forio, Monte Epomeo, and Piano Liguori, alongside radar data from the Civil Protection Department. It also provides information regarding wind and sea conditions.