Data-driven water management helps Europe tackle extreme drought and flooding
If the summer of 2026 – the hottest ever recorded in the Netherlands according to the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) – has made one thing clear, it is that water management and climate adaptation are more important than ever. Countries around the world are struggling with the effects of both extreme drought and flooding. The DROPS-WISE consortium is developing an innovative solution for water management. As the consortium’s technology partner, Technolution is developing, among other things, the architecture for this data-driven platform.
From national water management to cross-border cooperation
Water management in Europe has traditionally been primarily a national responsibility. As a result, approaches and information sharing can vary considerably from one country to another. Europe can no longer afford this level of fragmentation. Close cooperation is becoming increasingly important to address water-related risks. A group of European water authorities has selected the DROPS-WISE consortium (Drought and Rainfall Observation and Prediction System – Water Intelligence Service for Europe) to develop an innovative, data-driven solution for water management and climate adaptation at the European level.
DROPS-WISE is developing a scalable digital prototype that brings together satellite data, local monitoring networks, and advanced biophysical models. The platform covers the entire soil-water-vegetation system, from root-zone soil moisture and groundwater levels to evaporation and surface water. This enables local, regional, and national water authorities not only to predict acute risks such as flooding, extreme heat stress, and wildfire danger on an hourly basis, but also to make data-driven decisions for long-term, cross-border water management.
Hydrology and Earth observation for data-driven water management
The consortium brings together leading partners with complementary expertise. Arup, the consortium lead, FutureWater, Acacia Water, and VITO contribute in-depth expertise in hydrology and Earth observation. Together with Nelen & Schuurmans, experts in data-driven water management, Technolution is developing the technology behind the platform. Our role is to translate scientific knowledge into a robust, intelligent software architecture. We make complex water data understandable and directly usable for decision-makers and crisis managers. In this way, technology and domain expertise reinforce each other to support a climate-resilient future.
About DROPS-WISE
The DROPS-WISE consortium was selected by a European buyers group of public water authorities. They are working together as part of PCP-WISE (Pre-Commercial Procurement for Water Intelligence Services from Space), a Horizon Europe innovation project.
