The European POCTEP RISC_PLUS programme is making progress in hydro-meteorological monitoring with new control stations and artificial intelligence predictive models, improving the management of water resources and the response to extreme phenomena.
The European POCTEP RISC_PLUS project, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg VI A Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) 2021-2027 programme, continues to strengthen hydro-meteorological monitoring in the Miño-Sil basin.
At their 16th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG), the project partners analysed the progress made in the installation of new monitoring stations, the development of hydro-meteorological forecasting models and cross-border cooperation between Spain and Portugal.
New monitoring stations in the Miño-Sil basin
The Miño-Sil Hydrographic Confederation (CHMS) has completed the installation of five new SAIH-SAICA monitoring stations at strategic points in Galicia and Castile-León, adding to the 118 existing stations in the region. These stations enable real-time monitoring of flow rates and the prediction of extreme events such as floods and droughts.
The locations of the new stations are:
- River Tamuxe (O Rosal, Pontevedra)
- River Sil (Toreno, León)
- River Quiroga (Quiroga, Lugo)
- River Narla (Friol, Lugo)
- River Lobios (Lobios, Ourense)
This infrastructure will enable optimisation of water management, prevention of flooding and improved planning in the face of climate crisis scenarios.
Artificial intelligence for reservoir management and the prediction of extreme events
At the University of Vigo (UVigo), the project has implemented new hydro-meteorological and hydraulic prediction tools, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to improve reservoir management and anticipate adverse climatic phenomena.
The main innovations include:
- Soil Moisture Accounting infiltration model, which optimises hydrological simulation.
- Expansion of the system to 30 prediction points, with plans for further expansion.
- Use of neural networks to manage reservoirs and optimise flow regulation.
- Extension of the prediction to 72 hours, reinforcing the capacity to respond to torrential rain and flooding.
- Improvements in hydraulic modelling, applied at key points in the Automatic Hydrological Information System (SAIH).
Advanced prediction of droughts and water shortages
From the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), the research team has developed new predictive indices capable of anticipating scenarios of prolonged drought and water shortages up to seven months in advance. These models have a resolution of 0.25 degrees, which allows for a detailed analysis of the hydrological conditions in the region.
In addition, FEUP has applied machine learning to improve modelling in flooding situations in the Lima River basin, with comprehensive studies in Arcos de Valdevez and Ponte da Barca.
A key project for water management and adaptation to climate change
With an investment of more than 1.6 million euros, RISC_PLUS continues to make progress towards its goal of improving the resilience of the Miño-Sil basin in the face of climate change. The combination of advanced infrastructure, artificial intelligence and cross-border cooperation makes this project a benchmark for water management on the Iberian Peninsula.
The implementation of these technologies will optimise the management of water resources, guarantee the efficient use of water and minimise the impact of extreme phenomena on the population and the ecosystem.
