Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has launched a ward-level forecasting system. Built with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, the ward-level forecasting platform pinpoints flood risk down to 1.5km, letting the civic body deploy pumps and rescue teams before the rain falls.The system uses High-Performance Computing to run the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model at a 1.5km resolution. This allows the AMC’s Decision Support System to identify which of the city’s 51 wards, from Gota in the north to Lambha in the south, sits in the direct path of an approaching downpour.The platform displays colour-coded intensity maps, enabling authorities to flag flood-prone hotspots before the rainfall begins.By positioning emergency pumps and rescue teams at vulnerable locations ahead of time, the civic body can reduce both public distress and the traffic gridlock that typically follows heavy rain.The system is part of the National Supercomputing Mission’s Urban Program, and its coverage extends beyond Ahmedabad’s municipal limits to peripheral zones including Sanand, Dholka, and Viramgam.Beyond rainfall forecasting, the system monitors air quality and wind pressure, functioning as a broader environmental monitoring tool for the region. This multifaceted tool, therefore, is not only an asset ahead of emergencies but also a crucial long-term gauge of the city’s health parameters.For residents who have lived through Ahmedabad’s recurring monsoon disruptions, the system represents a shift in approach — from responding to flooded streets after the fact to anticipating flood-causing downpours well in advance.
