FLOPRES is a Polish-Slovak project developing integrated solutions for modelling, forecasting and early warning against flash floods. The system is designed to support the analysis of hydrological, meteorological and field data, and to assist public authorities, emergency services and residents of areas exposed to extreme weather events in making informed decisions. The project also places strong emphasis on climate change adaptation and on combining technology with nature-based solutions.
The project has already entered the stage of practical pilot implementation. In Małopolska, 92 measuring devices have been installed across three catchments: Roztoczanka, Bibiczanka and Garliczka. At the same time, an online early warning module is being developed, integrating data from IoT sensors, weather forecasts and hydrological models. These are exactly the kinds of tools that can improve response effectiveness in the face of flash flood risk and support local governments in managing public safety.
Our expert, Jacek Zalewski, is actively involved in the FLOPRES project as a water management expert cooperating with MARR. Jacek provides substantive support to the project team in the field of flood safety, advises on the development of the early warning system, supports the preparation of pilot projects, consultations with local governments and Polish Waters (PGW Wody Polskie), and co-leads workshops and meetings. He is also engaged in a range of project-related information and promotional activities.
The following elements are crucial to the project’s success:
- a greater number of sensors and their integration into the system, providing real-time information on threats;
- linking radar forecast data with the sensor system;
- an analytical module designed to improve data interpretation
- and finally, the human factor – once the system issues a warning, what should happen next?
This issue has been one of the strongest recurring themes during numerous meetings. Are we prepared to respond when a warning is issued, and if so, how should we assess what kind of response is appropriate? Will the information provided be credible and exceptional enough to trigger timely action from crisis management services and residents, without alarming them too often? Sometimes there are only 20 to 30 minutes to react. That is not much, but it is still enough — provided that people are prepared. A lack of alarms is dangerous, but a robust system must also be able to cope with a certain degree of uncertainty, so that it remains a highly reliable source of information about risk and does not notify recipients too often in vain.
An important part of FLOPRES’s educational activities is also the conference “Climate Alert – How FLOPRES Technology and Green Retention Protect Our Local Communities”, dedicated to modern solutions supporting climate safety, flood protection and climate change adaptation. The event will take place on 18 June 2026 at the Congress Centre of the University of Agriculture in Kraków, and the programme also includes a presentation by Jacek Zalewski entitled “Green Retention in Practice – What Can We Do?”
Participation in FLOPRES is another example of practically combining expert knowledge, data and digital tools with the real needs of local governments in the area of flood safety and climate adaptation.