Worsened by population growth and urbanization, climate change isincreasing the frequency and severity of floods and droughts, threatening lives and economies. To mitigate these impacts, better observation and prediction of hydrological changes are essential. Traditional water management methods struggle to capture the complex dynamics of the hydrological cycle and integrate diverse Earth Observation (EO) data, limiting their ability to accurately predict hydrological events at diverse spatial and temporal resolutions and in ungauged areas. Key challenges include the complexity of physical processes, data limitations, high costs, and a top-down approach that may not fully meet end-users’ needs.
EO satellites have greatly enhanced our understanding of the Earth
system, and advanced hydrological and hydraulic models and AI are
needed to fully utilize these datasets for scalable flood management.
Digital Twins (DT) offer a promising approach to simulate and manage
complex systems by creating virtual representations that integrate
data science, sensors, and modeling. However, current hydrological DTs
lack versatile, multi-scale modeling for diverse basins. The
Hydr’Avatar platform aims to fill this gap by integrating hydrological
and hydraulic models to represent basin-scale processes and flood
propagation. Advanced machine learning, data assimilation, and
high-resolution EO data will enhance model accuracy and enable
predictions in ungauged basins. The platform will also consider
anthropogenic impacts like land use changes and agricultural practices.
Hydr’Avatar will integrate Earth Observation (EO) data, ground
observations, and advanced models to improve understanding of
hydrological processes and decision-making. The EO data will cover
key water cycle components and include insights from the SWOT mission.
Physically-based hydrological models, coupled with high-resolution
hydraulic models and AI/ML methods, will provide user-friendly
hydrological information, enabling stakeholders to perform advanced tasks.

Our partners
Hydr’Avatar brings together renowned research institutions and innovative companies:

Hydro Matters
An innovative R&D company engaged in building the future operational hydrology from spaceHydro Matters is a French SME company founded in 2021 by experts in hydrology, remote sensing, and oceanography. We conduct research on monitoring freshwater using satellite data and modelling, with a focus on setting new methods for spatial hydrology, which can be used to predict extreme events and understand the impact of climate change on freshwater availability. The team has extensive experience in using remote sensing for water cycle studies, in hydrology and hydraulics. Collaboration with research institutes and stakeholders is to us a key point for ensuring the excellence and pertinence of the methodologies developed.

The CNRS
A major player in research and innovation at on the global stageThe National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) is a major player in basic research on the global stage and the only organisation in France that is active in all fields of science. Its unique position as a specialist in multiple fields means that it can bring together different scientific disciplines to shed light on and gain insight into current global challenges, in partnership with public sector, social and economic stakeholders. Together the sciences are used to bring about sustainable progress that benefits the whole of society.

Magellium
Data engineering for the Planet and TerritoriesMagellium is a French SME specializing in geospatial data processing, Earth observation, and the development of innovative solutions for monitoring and modeling environmental and hydrological systems.

SERTIT ICUBE
A world-renowned emergency information serviceBauer X did an excellent job from the conceptual stage through the finished construction of our new office.

INSA
building the world of tomorrowExperts dans la production, le traitement, l’analyse et l’interprétation des données géo-scientifiques en relation avec l’hydrologie.

VORTEX-IO
Hydro Intelligence SolutionsvorteX-io is a company inspired by satellite systems, offering innovative in-situ measurement solutions. Its micro-station leverages remote sensing technologies to deliver water-related data, including water height, water surface velocity, surface temperature, as well as contextual images and videos.

RSS Hydro
Geospatial and modelling intelligence helps you manage flood and wildfire riskRSS-Hydro is a company developing and offering solutions based on geospatial and modeling intelligence for better managing hydroclimatic risks. The team’s extensive experience in R&D uniquely positions the company to turn scientific innovation into viable and robust products and services.

Toulouse INP/IMFT
AN UNIVERSITY OPEN TO THE WOLRDThe H2O group at the Toulouse INP/Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse focuses on the transfer of water and particulate matter from catchment to river, in direct relation to operational issues such as flood forecasting and biodiversity conservation. To this end, we develop numerical hydrological-hydraulic models supported by mathematical tools such as parameter optimisation and uncertainty propagation.

INRAE
Science dedicated to life, humans, and the EarthThe INRAE RECOVER RHAX team, part of the INRAE research institute and the RECOVER unit at Aix-Marseille University, focuses on developing innovative approaches for hydrometeorological risk management through physical process modeling, data assimilation, and hybrid physical-AI methods, aiming to enhance regional knowledge and decision-making capabilities in the face of natural hazards and ecosystem dynamics under global change.

LEGOS
Laboratory of Space Geophysical and Oceanographic StudiesThe LEGOS research and teaching scientific fields include oceanography and the water cycle in the broadest sense, with the physics of the oceanic, hydrological, cryospheric and atmospheric components, including coastal and climatic components, as well as marine biogeochemistry and geochemistry.

IMT at INSA
Mathematics Institute of ToulouseOur team, part of the Mathematics Institute of Toulouse (IMT) at INSA [2], develops innovative mathematical models and computational methods, along with the resulting open-source software dedicated to geophysical fluid flows with a significant focus on water fluxes at all scales (from local to global).

CS GROUP
A key actor engaged in developing the technologies of tomorrowCS GROUP has a differentiated position in the digital services market. A European mid-size company with a culture of entrepreneurship, it is agile and innovative and possesses a high level of technical and professional expertise. CS GROUP is the trusted partner of leading French and international groups for the digitalization of operational systems.

CERFACS
High-performance computing research centerCERFACS is a high-performance computing research center in the fields of energy, aeronautics, climate and environment. It develops numerical methods and algorithms for computational fluid mechanics and data science. The hydrology team uses these methods to simulate free-surface flows and couple them with remote sensing or field measurements to find solutions to reduce its social, economic and environmental impact.
Each partner plays a key role in the development and deployment of this platform to ensure its effectiveness and impact.
Contact us
Questions? Collaboration?
Feel free to reach out to us to learn more about Hydr’Avatar or discuss potential collaborations.