Hydro Matters, a French SME company founded in 2021 by experts in hydrology, remote sensing, and oceanography, conducts research on monitoring freshwater using satellite data and modelling. We are dedicated to research and developing of 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 and collaborating with stakeholders. We recently opened an office in French Guyana to focus on local environmental and population issues. Our relevant projects include designing a network to calibrate satellite data, validating data from the SWOT mission for South American rivers, and selecting basins for river discharge monitoring.
The RECOVER unit, is part of INRAE public institute (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment) and Aix-Marseille University, and focuses on the functioning of ecosystems and natural hazards. It is a joint research unit (UMR) that brings together over 100 researchers, engineers, and technicians with multidisciplinary expertise in environmental sciences, earth sciences, engineering, and ecology. The unit’s research explores the interactions between natural and human-influenced systems, employing cross-disciplinary approaches to risk management. Its primary focus is to advance the understanding of natural hazards, such as wildfires and hydrological risks, while developing innovative decision-making tools for effective risk mitigation and ecosystem restoration.
In the field of hydrology, RECOVER researchers work on fine-scale modeling of hydrological phenomena to improve hazard assessments and mitigate potential damages. Their work contributes to various projects, including the regionalization of hydrological models, floods predetermination, and the development of the French Flash Flood Forecasting system. Additionally, they focus on assimilating altimetry data into hydrology-hydraulics models and advancing hybrid physics-AI spatialized hydrological modeling, bridging traditional hydrological approaches with cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques.
CS GROUP and its subsidiaries are present in Europe, North and South America and Middle East. CS GROUP also has thirteen different footholds in France with its headquarters in Paris. Space related activities are mainly handled by our offices in Toulouse, Paris, and Darmstadt. Since 2003, CS GROUP has been involved in hydrology projects, starting with flood crisis management topics with the ESPADA warning and management system for the city of Nîmes. Subsequent uninterrupted collaboration with the SCHAPI enabled us to develop both the National Supervisor, responsible for collecting data from the 3,000 stations in the national measurement network, and the operational hydrological modelling platforms used daily.
CECI (UMR5318 CNRS/CERFACS – Centre Européen de Recherche et de Formation Avancée en Calcul Scientifique) is a private research center involved in development, transfer and training activities in simulation, modeling and high-performance computing, mainly for the benefits of its seven industrial and public shareholders (Airbus Group, CNES, EDF, Météo France, Onera, Safran and TotalEnergy). CECI collaborate with public and private partners such as CNRS (associated Research Unit CECI), IRIT, CEA and INRIA to develop innovative solutions in various sectors, including climate, energy, and environment.
CERFACS’s expertise in geosciences modelling positions them well for hydrological digital twin development. Their collaborations with esteemed organizations like Météo-France and CNES highlight their strong foundation in continental water and hydrology, particularly river dynamics and flood prediction. Furthermore, CERFACS actively develops data assimilation methods for hydrological models (Mascaret (1D), Telemac(2D)) and integrates them with other models and/or with solvers dedicated to small and large-scale hydrology (such as MORDOR, GRP, RAPID). Their experience in leveraging satellite and remote sensing data for Earth observation strengthens hydrological modelling by incorporating valuable data alongside traditional in-situ measurements. This expertise is further emphasized by their partnership with CNES on the SWOT mission and their participation in the SCO-FloodDAM project, which focused on flood detection, mapping, and forecasting – all key aspects of a hydrological digital twin.
The Institut de Mathématiques de Toulouse (IMT) is a French research institute that brings together 240 permanent teachers and researchers, engineers, technicians and administrative staff, as well as 120 doctoral students and an average of 30 post-doctoral students. The Laboratory is supervised by six institutions: the CNRS, the INSA, the INUC, the University Toulouse 1 Capitole, the University Toulouse-Jean Jaurès and the University Toulouse 3-Paul Sabatier. Its research topics cover all areas of mathematics, from the most theoretical to the most applied, and are organized around six teams corresponding to mathematical sub-disciplines. The IMT develops numerous interactions with other sciences and with the socio-economic world, often transversal to the teams. IMT is the leader of the MINT University Research School, supports and animates the CIMI Laboratory of Excellence with IRIT and LAAS, and is a founding partner of the ANITI Artificial Intelligence Institute. They have been involved in the following relevant projects in the field of hydrology:
- SWOT Contribution for Understanding the Dynamics of the Polar Ice Caps: Data Assimilation and Multi-scale Approach
- Altimetry Data Assimilation Chain for Multi-resolution River Flow Models
- River discharge and bathymetry estimations from altimetry data
- Inference of the bedrock topography beneath glaciers in interior sectors of East Antarctica by multi-sensor data assimilation
The Institute of Fluid Mechanics of Toulouse (IMFT) is a research laboratory under the triple supervision of the National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse (INP-ENSEEIHT), the CNRS (Institute of Engineering Sciences and Systems) and the Paul Sabatier University (Department of Mechanics). Created in 1918, it was initially a hydraulics research laboratory recognized for its experimental studies on scale models. Today, it focuses on experimentation, modeling and numerical simulation and has become one of the leading research laboratories in fluid mechanics.
Its Ecohydraulics and Hydrology team studies natural flows over complex soils at different scales, directly related to operational issues ranging from flood forecasting to restoration of ecological continuity (Water Framework Directive 2000/60/CE). Part of the research is dedicated to improving the understanding and representation of flood dynamics, identifying the dominant processes according to the characteristics of the studied system.
IMFT has extensive experience in distributed hydrological modelling, a key technique for understanding complex flows. Their research focuses on parameter estimation, uncertainty analysis and model improvement using data assimilation and Earth observation data (e.g. satellite data). Their collaboration with INRAE and IMT on the SWOT satellite mission (2012-2020) and their participation in RTRA-STAE (Advanced research thematic network-Aeronautics and space science and technology) projects (2018-2020) demonstrate their successful application of Earth observation data for hydrological purposes.
L’institut National Polytechnique (INP) Toulouse, led by the expertise of IMFT, is well positioned to make a significant contribution to the construction of a hydrological digital twin. Their established experience in distributed hydrological modelling provides a solid foundation for simulating complex water flow systems, a core capability of the digital twin. Furthermore, their focus on data assimilation and the use of earth observation data is perfectly aligned with the integration of diverse data streams into the digital twin framework. In addition, their research in parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis is invaluable in creating a robust and adaptive digital twin capable of handling the inherent complexities of real-world hydrology.
The Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS) is a UMR5566 collaborative research unit under the supervision of CNES, CNRS, IRD and UT3 within the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP) in Toulouse. LEGOS brings together about 140 people. It is organized in research teams, observing services/networks and transversal axes. The scientific field of research and teaching at LEGOS covers oceanography and the water cycle in the broadest sense, with the physics of the oceanic, hydrological, cryospheric and atmospheric components, including their coastal and climatic components, on the one hand, and marine biogeochemistry and geochemistry on the other.
For more than 25 years, LEGOS has used satellite remote sensing data to understand hydrologic systems in a variety of environments, including lakes, rivers, floodplains, and the water cycle. Their leadership in numerous space hydrology projects in Asia, South America, and Africa demonstrates their ability to address large-scale hydrological challenges. LEGOS has played a key role in the development of satellite altimetry missions such as SWOT, contributing to scientific requirements, algorithm development, team coordination, and instrument calibration/validation. Their commitment to data dissemination through platforms such as CTOH (Centre de Topographie des Oceans et de l’Hydrospere) and Hydroweb (water levels, lake extent and volume, and river water levels from satellite altimetry) underscores their ability to provide user-friendly hydrological information – a valuable asset for the digital twin.
LEGOS is also leading Climate Change Initiatives projects (funded by ESA) for lakes ECVs (Essential Climate Variables) and for river discharge. LEGOS also works closely with various space agencies to prepare new altimetry missions (constellation from Topex / Poseidon to Sentinel-6/MF) and also interferometry: the two PI’s of the SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) mission are LEGOS researchers. It includes the definition of the scientific requirements, the development of algorithms, the coordination of the science team and the execution of the calibration validation of the instruments.
Founded in 2003 by individuals with extensive experience in the space sector, particularly in sensor geometry and image processing, Magellium is headquartered near Toulouse, France, in the heart of the French space sector. The company has grown rapidly and steadily over the last 10 years to its current size of 161 employees. Magellium has a subsidiary in the Paris area (Courbevoie) as a result of the acquisition of the Défense branch of Générale Infographic in 2009. In 2010, Magellium acquired Geotexel, a company specialized in digital cartography, thus consolidating its offer in this market. Magellium benefits from recognized skills in earth observation, geographic information systems (GIS), geo-intelligence and vision-based embedded systems. Its offering includes scientific studies, software and IT systems development, turnkey products and services, and consulting services. Their Earth Observation unit focuses on the development of solutions using satellite and other Earth observation data. They have expertise in sensors and image processing, atmospheric corrections and calibration, algorithms and geophysical parameter retrieval, ground segment processing of instruments and algorithms, and geophysical applications of space and Earth observation data. For several years, the Earth Observation Unit has developed strong and specific expertise in the processing of spaceborne Earth observation data for climate and hydrological studies related to space gravimetry, assimilation of spaceborne hydrological observations, ocean heat content, and Earth energy imbalance estimates.
Their established experience in leveraging Earth observation data for hydrological applications positions them perfectly to contribute to the digital twin’s data foundation. Projects like SEED-FD and HYFAA exemplify their ability to develop practical solutions for flood forecasting and water management using Earth observation (EO) techniques. Additionally, their expertise in data assimilation, as evidenced by their work on H2020 G3P, highlights their capability to integrate diverse data streams – a critical aspect of the digital twin. This is further bolstered by their experience with cutting-edge technologies for hydrological data collection, demonstrated in projects like OSSE SMASH and S&I EEA.
RSS-Hydro SARL is a research and development (R&D) company specialized in the use of remote sensing (drones, satellites) and machine learning to generate actionable information for water resources management, environmental protection and disaster risk reduction. Its team combines expertise in hydrology, remote sensing, AI and GIS.
RSS-Hydro has nearly two decades of experience applying cutting-edge technologies to water resource challenges. Their team excels at leveraging remote sensing, particularly through drones and satellites, and combines this expertise with in-house computer simulations to assess water-related risks. This translates into a deep understanding of flood modeling and forecasting, with experience in both traditional methods and advanced machine learning techniques. Their project portfolio further strengthens their candidacy: FloodSENS demonstrates their capabilities in flood mapping, while HeManEO shows their ability to develop compliant satellite earth observation applications. In addition, active R&D projects in disaster response using EO and participation in NASA’s FDL program highlight their commitment to developing AI-based solutions for flood response. Finally, their experience with hydrodynamic modelling for flood simulation and forecasting demonstrates their ability to translate data into actionable insights.
The Service Régional de Traitement d’Image et de Télédétection (SERTIT), a self-financing remote sensing service, is the technological platform of ICube, the largest laboratory of the University of Strasbourg (UNISTRA). In the St3TART project, the legal representative is the University of Strasbourg (UNISTRA) represented by SATT CONECTUS and the proposed work is carried out by ICUBE SERTIT. CONECTUS is a joint stock company created by several public research institutions, intervening in the whole chain of technology transfer and public-private partnerships. It is the company that manages the partnership contracts between the public laboratories of the University of Strasbourg, the CNRS and the INSERM.
SERTIT is specialized in Earth Observation image processing applications, geo-information production and EO market development, from R&D studies to the development of operational services. It has a long leadership experience in the fields of environment, land planning, natural disasters and risk and recovery management at regional, national and international levels. This resource center is composed of 20 multidisciplinary specialists in remote sensing, image processing, GIS, geology, land surveying, photogrammetry, geography and physics.
SERTIT has accompanied the development of the entire French EO satellite family (SPOT AVAL projects, Pleiades HR system programs, ARCTOS system, C03D) as well as the development of the European Space Agency satellites (ERS-1, through ENVISAT to the Sentinels) and is Principal Investigator for several space agencies.
Its participation in the development of the French and European EO satellite families (SPOT AVAL projects, Pleiades HR system programs, ARCTOS system, C03D), as well as in the development of the European Space Agency satellites (ERS-1, through ENVISAT to the Sentinels) and as Principal Investigator for space agencies, demonstrates its leadership in Earth Observation (EO) technology. Furthermore, SERTIT has established itself as a leader in rapid mapping, acting as a key player in the European Copernicus Emergency Management Service for nearly two decades. Their dedication to rapid response is undeniable, with a proven track record of delivering over 2000 geospatial products for global disaster response, further bolstered by their ISO 9001 certification for rapid information production. Beyond rapid mapping, SERTIT boasts significant expertise in water resources management. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of water body and wetland monitoring projects (e.g., ManHuma). Their leadership in the successful DRAGON projects focused on « water-driven landscapes » demonstrates their ability to analyze factors like vegetation, water quality, and monitoring. This expertise extends to participation in critical missions like SWOT, where they contribute to data calibration/ validation and develop specialized hydrological products. Additionally, SERTIT possesses experience with lake water extraction, reservoir monitoring (Stockwater), and wetland evolution studies, showcasing their comprehensive understanding of water resources. Finally, SERTIT serves as a Copernicus Relay for the French Grand Est region and actively participates in user engagement activities for water stakeholders, highlighting their commitment to user-centric solutions. Overall, SERTIT’s blend of EO expertise, proven track record in rapid response, and in-depth water resource management experience positions them as a valuable asset for developing a robust hydrological digital twin.
VORTEX.IO is a company founded in 2019 with expertise in space altimetry and oceanography applied to continental hydrology. They provide a comprehensive solution for flood and drought risk management through a network of in-situ microstations and a web-based platform (Maelstrom®).
VORTEX.IO has experience in deploying and operating a large network of hydrological micro-stations for real-time water surface monitoring (since 2020). They have experience in working with various clients including public authorities, private companies (e.g. insurers, SNCF) and research institutions. They have participated in several projects relevant to hydrological data collection and calibration, including:
- ESA’s St3TART project (2021-2023): Definition of strategies for reference measurements to validate satellite data (Sentinel-3).
- Cal/Val SWOT activities (2023-2024): Instrumentation of sites for the calibration and validation of data from the SWOT satellite mission.
- EIC WHYLD project (2023-2025): Develop new capabilities for micro-stations to provide river discharge, precipitation and flood risk forecasts.
- FR2030 Space Hydrology Project (2024-2026): Provide in-situ measurements to calibrate hydrological products derived from satellite data.
In addition, their proven experience in data collection, calibration and validation is invaluable in incorporating diverse data streams. VORTEX.IO’s participation in projects such as WHYLD demonstrates their ability to develop flood risk prediction capabilities, an essential component of any hydrological digital twin. Overall, VORTEX.IO brings the technical capabilities and experience to make a significant contribution, particularly through their real-time in-situ data acquisition.