Artificial Intelligence in the Fight Against Floods!
The Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia is proud to announce the launch of the international EU Horizon research project ARTIFACT (Artificial Intelligence for Flood Resilient Infrastructure), in collaboration with esteemed European partners – Delft University of Technology, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, and Hamburg University of Technology.
“The ARTIFACT project represents a significant step forward not only for the Institute but also for Serbia. By partnering with leading European institutions, we are strengthening our research capacities and opening new opportunities for applying artificial intelligence to tackle complex ecological and infrastructure challenges. Our vision is to become a center of excellence for green AI technologies in smart cities, bridging science and innovation with the concrete needs of the community,” stated Prof. Dr. Dubravko Ćulibrk, acting director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia, during the project’s kick-off meeting.
The project introduces advanced AI models for flood prediction that go beyond traditional physics-based approaches. These models enable more accurate forecasts and faster responses to extreme weather events, enhancing infrastructure resilience and empowering local communities.
“The goal of the ARTIFACT project is to improve the resilience of urban infrastructure to flooding through the application of artificial intelligence and nature-inspired technical solutions. Our main ambition is to develop advanced tools for more precise flood forecasting and management, positioning the Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia as a regional leader in AI technologies for water engineering. Among the challenges we face is adapting these innovations to local climate and infrastructure conditions through collaboration with the IT sector and academia,” emphasized Dr. Milan Stojković, team lead of the “Green AI” research group and senior research associate at IVI.
Representatives from European partner institutions also spoke during the meeting.
“Floods pose a significant problem worldwide, and we believe that artificial intelligence has an essential role in future flood risk management. We are pleased to participate in the new EU project ARTIFACT, where we will address real-world flood challenges and exchange knowledge with our project partners,” noted Prof. Dr. Zoran Kapelan, head of the Urban Water Infrastructure Group at Delft University of Technology.
On that occasion, Prof. Dr. Nataša Manojlović from the Hamburg University of Technology added: “The ARTIFACT project presents an excellent opportunity to establish long-term collaboration with institutions in Serbia, working on joint research topics in flood management through the application of artificial intelligence and nature-inspired technical solutions. I am delighted to contribute to the development of scientific research infrastructure in these fields in Serbia with my experience and contacts gained during my work at the Hamburg University of Technology.”The ARTIFACT project promotes interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers and AI experts from Serbia, the Netherlands, and Germany to create efficient, sustainable, and long-term flood protection systems. With this project, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia further reinforces its commitment to research and innovation with a positive impact on the environment and society.
