CIESIN News

CIESIN Contributes Spatial Data Expertise to Urban Flash-Flood Early Warning System

July 31, 2026
CIESIN's Juan Martinez presenting at the workshop hosted by Guatemala’s National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) and WMO.

CIESIN is contributing spatial data expertise to the development of the Urban Flash Flood Information System (UFFIS), an initiative supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Developed in collaboration with the University of Iowa, Rutgers University, and the Columbia Climate School’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), the project aims to strengthen flash-flood forecasting and early warning capabilities in vulnerable island nations and countries worldwide.

CIESIN’s Juan F. Martinez served as a facilitator at a coordination workshop held July 23–24, 2026, in Guatemala City. Drawing on his expertise in spatial socioeconomic data, population exposure, and vulnerability analysis, Martinez demonstrated how demographic and socioeconomic information can be integrated with flash flood forecasts to identify communities, infrastructure, and essential services at risk. He also presented research conducted in collaboration with Columbia Climate School colleagues Andrew J. Kruczkiewicz, Dorothy Janick, and Caitlin Traver, demonstrating established impact-based forecasting frameworks and  international examples. The workshop was hosted by Guatemala’s National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) and WMO.

Workshop participants

The UFFIS tool aims to strengthen flash-flood early warnings by integrating impact-based forecasting into existing institutional procedures. CIESIN is supporting this component by identifying and incorporating spatial data on populations, critical infrastructure, buildings, roads, and agricultural areas. By combining these exposure data with flood forecasts, UFFIS can help determine who and what may be affected, provide emergency managers with more actionable information, and support the integration of impact-based warnings into existing workflows. 

Portions of this news blurb were edited with the assistance of AI tools to improve clarity and readability. All content was reviewed and validated by the authors.