FloodLens4D

Idea

FloodLens4D is a satellite-based flood intelligence platform designed for data-scarce, climate-vulnerable regions. Many flood-prone areas in the GlobalSouth lack ground sensors, reliable historical records, and local monitoring infrastructure. As a result, students, researchers, municipalities, insurers, and development organisations often make fieldwork, planning, and investment decisions with limited localised flood-risk evidence.

Our solution turns complex Earth observation data into clear, usable flood intelligence. We have already developed a working prototype using our own integrated algorithm, built around Sentinel-1 SAR, combined with necessary geospatial datasets. The prototype generates ready-to-use outputs (including our simplified dashboard) that respond directly to the types of flood-risk information needed by major development organisations for Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA), project preparation, risk screening, and investment planning. Videos of these outputs are included in our pitch. 

We will scale FloodLens4D through a phased pathway. First, we will launch a Proof of Concept (POC) at our home university, the University of Agder (UiA), supporting BA and MA students and researchers who need to identify flood-prone locations before their fieldwork. From there, we will expand to other universities in Norway and the European Union, before targeting major institutional users such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), World Bank Group (WBG), United Nations (UN) agencies, and other international organisations.

EU space technologies

FloodLens4D uses Copernicus Earth observation data, especially Sentinel-1 SAR. Sentinel-1 SAR is central because it enables all-weather, day-and-night flood detection, while Sentinel-2 provides optical information.

Our tailor-made workflow algorithm integrates Sentinel-1 SAR with supporting datasets such as Global Surface Water, Global Human Settlement Layer, Digital Elevation data, and MODIS-derived environmental indicators. This allows FloodLens4D to convert raw satellite imagery into flood extent maps, glacial lake change detection, exposure estimates, and flood-risk scores tailored first for academic fieldwork preparation, and later for institutional users working on climate risk, adaptation, infrastructure planning, and disaster-risk finance.

EU Space for Water

FloodLens4D addresses Challenge #3: Disaster Risk Monitoring. It contributes to water-resource protection and management by helping detect and monitor flood events, glacial lake expansion, and potential glacial lake outburst flood risks in vulnerable regions.

By identifying where water-related hazards are emerging, who or what may be exposed, and which areas require closer attention, FloodLens4D supports earlier preparedness, safer fieldwork planning, better urban and infrastructure planning, and more evidence-based climate-risk decisions. Its phased business plan begins with students and researchers at the University of Agder (UiA), expands to universities across Norway and the European Union, and then scales toward municipalities, financial institutions, and major development organisations.

Team

Our team combines technical capability, development-sector industry knowledge, and business value-chain expertise. The integrated data algorithm has been developed by our IT specialist, educated within Japan’s Kosen engineering ecosystem, and is supported by Asian Development Bank (ADB) staff experience and PhD-level expertise in business value chain development. This gives FloodLens4D both the technical credibility to build the product and the industry understanding to serve universities, development banks, international organisations, and financial institutions.

Oyun Amartuvshin — IT Specialist / Development and Climate Risk Lead

Former staff member at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), KDDI Corporation (Fortune 500), and Mobicom Corporation (Sumitomo), with an IT engineering background from Japan’s Kosen ecosystem. She developed FloodLens4D’s integrated data algorithm and brings experience not only in digital systems, and climate adaptation, but also in development projects, and translating technical solutions into practical tools for universities, international organisations, development institutions, and end users.

Seb Davalos — Business Development Specialist / Market Lead

Seb supports market positioning, customer discovery, and business development for academic, financial, and development-sector users. He contributes to shaping FloodLens4D’s phased growth strategy, starting with a university-based Proof of Concept (POC) and expanding toward institutional clients. He brings in years of experience working in Non-Government Organisations (NGO). He is currently pursuing his PhD at the University of Agder (UiA) specialised in global value chain development concerning GlobalSouth. 

Luvsan Vanjildorj — Team Leader 

Former full-time staff member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), current External Expert for the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Resource Person for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and pre-qualified Strategy Consultant team member for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He brings unmatched industry knowledge and networks from within major development and financial institutions, with extensive experience in climate mitigation and adaptation projects across Asia-Pacific, Central America, and beyond. He was awarded a Forbes Magazine’s 40/40 title for his work in GlobalSouth.