The Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS) has launched a dedicated satellite data service and an integrated flood warning platform to support emergency response efforts amid persistent heavy rainfall causing widespread flooding across China.

The "2026 China Summer Flood Disaster Data Service," developed by the National Earth Observation Data Center (NODA) hosted by AIRCAS, went live on July 7. This service provides local governments, disaster reduction agencies, and research institutions with timely access to satellite imagery, geographic information, and other disaster-related datasets.

By comparing satellite observations from before, during, and after flooding events, researchers can identify changes in water extent, assess affected farmland, roads, settlements, and infrastructure. This data supports decision-making for emergency deployment, evacuation, damage assessment, and post-disaster recovery.

The service has already released multi-source satellite imagery for flood-affected areas, including data for Nanning in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Additional datasets will be provided as rainfall patterns and affected areas evolve.

AIRCAS is also operating the China Flood Dynamic Warning and Monitoring Integrated Service Platform. This system collects and updates flood and water-level warnings issued by over 150 provincial and municipal hydrological stations and water resources authorities above the county level.

Utilizing artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and geographic information technologies, the platform organizes scattered warning information by location, time, and severity. It presents the results on a nationwide digital map, enabling users to quickly identify high-risk areas and track changing flood conditions.

The platform also applies intelligent analysis to warning signals and supports trend assessment, transforming fragmented information into visual products that aid emergency decision-making.

Since 2020, NODA has coordinated summer flood data services for government departments, disaster management organizations, and scientific teams, supporting flood response in various Chinese cities and regions.

For the 2026 flood season, NODA is coordinating efforts through the China GEO Disaster Data Response (CDDR) mechanism, involving more than 10 government agencies, universities, and commercial satellite companies. These partners will continue to provide meteorological, ocean, resource, and commercial satellite data to meet operational needs.

AIRCAS will maintain its monitoring of rainfall, water levels, and disaster conditions, updating satellite data and warning information to support flood control, emergency rescue, and recovery efforts across China.