AquaRisk

💎 Idea

Data centers are rapidly expanding due to the growth of AI and cloud computing, but their reliance on water for cooling is creating increasing pressure on local water systems. A single large data center can consume millions of liters of water per day, and poor site selection can lead to operational disruptions, regulatory delays, and long-term environmental stress.

Our solution, Site AquaRisk, is a satellite-based screening tool that assesses the water risk of proposed or existing data center locations. By combining multiple environmental datasets into a single, standardized risk score, the tool allows developers, investors, and insurers to quickly evaluate whether a site is suitable or exposed to long-term water stress.

Unlike traditional assessments, Site AquaRisk does not only reflect current conditions. It also identifies whether water stress is increasing over time, providing a forward-looking risk signal that supports better infrastructure decisions before major investments are made.

🛰️ EU space technologies

Site AquaRisk relies on data from the Copernicus Programme, using multiple satellite-derived datasets to build a comprehensive water risk profile.

We use:

• Sentinel-2 for monitoring surface water availability and long-term changes in lakes and rivers
• Sentinel-1 for detecting soil moisture conditions and flood or saturation patterns
• Copernicus Global Drought Observatory (GDO) for drought indicators and soil moisture anomalies
• JRC Global Surface Water datasets for long-term historical water trends

These datasets allow us to analyze both current conditions and long-term environmental changes using a consistent, global methodology. The value lies in transforming complex Earth observation data into a simple, decision-ready risk score that can be applied anywhere in the world, including regions where reliable local data is limited.

🌊 EU Space for Water

Our project addresses both Challenge 1: Securing equitable and efficient access to water and Challenge 3: Disaster risk monitoring. By identifying water-stressed locations before infrastructure is developed, Site AquaRisk supports more equitable and efficient water allocation. It helps prevent overuse of local water resources by large industrial actors, ensuring that communities and ecosystems are not placed under additional pressure due to poorly planned datacenter siting. At the same time, the tool contributes to disaster risk monitoring by detecting early signals of increasing drought frequency, water scarcity, and environmental instability. By leveraging long-term satellite data, Site AquaRisk highlights emerging risks before they escalate into critical shortages or disruptions. Together, this enables more responsible infrastructure planning, reduces the likelihood of water-related conflicts, and strengthens resilience to climate-driven water stress.

🤼 Team

We are a team of six first-year Global Development students at the University of Agder (UiA), bringing an interdisciplinary perspective on sustainability, policy, and global resource management.

Our team consists of students from diverse backgrounds, including Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Norway. This international composition allows us to approach the challenge from multiple perspectives, combining knowledge of environmental issues, development policy, and global infrastructure challenges.

Max – Technical Lead

Max is responsible for the technical layer of the project, including technology selection, system architecture, and implementation of key functionalities. He ensures system integrity and focuses on scalability and performance during the prototyping phase.

Mick – Vision Lead

Mick is responsible for defining the overall concept and strategic direction of the project. He ensures conceptual consistency and translates identified challenges into a clear and coherent product vision.

Gerard – Economics

Gerard is responsible for the economic analysis of the project, including financial feasibility. He develops initial cost assumptions, evaluates potential viability, and supports the selection of an appropriate business model from an economic perspective.

Edvard – Sales

Edvard focuses on developing the project’s commercialization strategy. He analyzes potential business models, identifies possible distribution channels, and outlines initial directions for scaling the solution in the market.

Cate – Research

Cate is responsible for data analysis, problem-space exploration, and identifying existing solutions. She provides a solid knowledge base that supports informed decision-making throughout the project.

Zuzanna – Marketing

Zuzanna is responsible for shaping the project’s communication strategy, including positioning and value presentation. She develops the project narrative and ensures consistency across all presentation materials.