One dataset cannot predict every flood: IISc and FM seek better modeling methods

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has partnered with commercial property insurer FM to develop improved models for assessing flood risks, extreme weather events and climate-related hazards in India.

The collaboration will combine IISc’s scientific research with FM’s engineering and risk-modeling expertise to strengthen the understanding of natural hazards and support resilience planning.

The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at IISc in Bengaluru, establishing a framework for joint research on natural hazards, climate change impacts and the data and models required to assess complex risks.

The agreement is expected to support research into how these hazards can be better understood and modeled using scientific evidence and advanced analytical techniques.

The partnership will draw on IISc’s research in climate change impacts, extreme hydrological events, remote sensing and water resources. FM will contribute its expertise in natural hazards, climate risk, engineering and modeling to explore approaches that could improve risk assessment and inform decision-making.

“India presents complex challenges for understanding natural hazards and climate risk, and those challenges demand strong science and collaboration,” said Srini Krishnamurthy, Senior Vice President, FM India Operations. “By combining IISc’s deep scientific knowledge with FM’s engineering, research and risk expertise, we can help improve how these hazards are understood and support better-informed decisions about resilience.”

Flood risk assessment is among the areas of research that could benefit from the collaboration. The partnership aims to explore methods for improving the accuracy and efficiency of flood modeling, helping researchers and decision-makers better evaluate potential hazards in a changing climate.

Professor Rajarshi Das Bhowmik of IISc said, “This partnership will help develop innovative, data-efficient modelling approaches to improve flood risk assessment and support informed decision-making in a changing climate.”

The collaboration will also examine how different types of data and scientific disciplines can be brought together to improve the reliability of climate and flood models. Assessing these risks requires an understanding of physical processes, terrain, climate conditions, observational data and uncertainty, as well as the relationships between these factors.

“Flood and climate modelling are good examples of problems where no single dataset or discipline gives you the full answer,” said Julien Oliver, Research Group Manager, APAC Natural Hazards & Climate Research, FM. “You need to understand the physical processes, terrain, climate, observations and uncertainty, and how those pieces interact. Working with IISc gives us an opportunity to explore new methods, improve modelling and build greater confidence in model outputs.”

For IISc, the agreement provides an opportunity to connect its academic research in climate science, hydrology and civil engineering with practical applications in natural hazard assessment and risk management. The partnership is intended to produce research that advances scientific understanding while remaining relevant to real-world challenges.

Professor D Nagesh Kumar of IISc said, “Natural hazards and climate-related risks require research that is both scientifically rigorous and applicable to real-world decision-making. By combining IISc’s expertise in climate, hydrology and civil engineering with FM’s engineering and risk capabilities, this collaboration can support stronger models, better data and more informed approaches to resilience in India.”

FM has already been conducting natural hazard research in India, including regional and local flood studies. Its work also includes developing scalable approaches to flood hazard assessment using advanced data and modeling techniques. The new collaboration with IISc is expected to build on these efforts by bringing additional scientific expertise and research capabilities into the process.

The agreement establishes a framework for multiple research projects over time rather than limiting the partnership to a single study. The specific scientific questions, research methodologies and expected outputs will be determined through separate project agreements.

Through the collaboration, IISc and FM aim to advance the development of data-efficient modeling approaches, strengthen flood and climate risk assessments, and improve the evidence available for decisions concerning natural hazards and resilience in India.