Amazon uses AI to save Spanish region

Amazon has announced the launch of a large-scale AI project worth 17.2 million euros to combat flooding in the northeastern region of Spain – Aragon, where the company is building its data centers.

The initiative is part of larger investments by Amazon Web Services (AWS), which in May announced a 15.7 billion euro investment in cloud infrastructure development in the region. The flood risk reduction project is particularly relevant following the devastating flooding that devastated vast areas around Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city.

Aragon, through which Spain’s most full-flowing river Ebro runs, regularly faces the threat of floods. Amazon plans to use advanced cloud technologies to deploy an early warning system that will combine real-time data collection with a network of modern sensors and AI analysis to monitor flooding risks in the region’s capital – Zaragoza.

The platform will track weather conditions and water flows, providing emergency services with advance warnings of possible floods. Special attention is being paid to the Barranco de la Muerte (“Death Ravine”) area, where local authorities in Zaragoza are already building protective structures following the 2023 floods.

This project demonstrates how large technology companies can use their resources and expertise in artificial intelligence not only for commercial purposes but also to address important social and environmental issues.