DeepINDRA: Leveraging AI and Citizen Science for Flood Resilience in India

Implementing Partner: Build Change

Project name:DeepINDRA: Leveraging AI and Citizen Science for Flood Resilience in India

This project advances flood monitoring with “DeepSARFlood,” a deep learning-based tool for precise flood mapping, and the INDRA app, which collects real-time rainfall and storm data through citizen engagement.

Unlike conventional SAR methods reliant on manual calibration and limited radar input, DeepSARFlood enhances accuracy by learning complex flood signatures and integrating diverse datasets.

Together, these tools strengthen early warning systems, enabling faster detection, improved disaster response, and more effective community resilience strategies.

India’s annual losses
from floods
$ 0 bn
Indian districts
exposed to extreme
floods
0 %
Indian districts with
adequate early warning
systems
0 %

Impact and Key Findings

1

DeepSARFlood utilizes advanced deep learning models trained on extensive datasets to enhance flood mapping accuracy. By analyzing complex flood patterns from diverse inputs, it outperforms traditional methods, providing more precise, data-driven insights for improved disaster monitoring and response. 

2

DeepSARFlood integrates terrain features and permanent waterbody data to refine flood detection accuracy. This enhanced precision improves situational awareness, enabling faster, data-driven disaster response and more effective decision-making in flood-prone regions. 

3

The INDRA app enables communities to report real-time flood observations, enhancing data validation and situational awareness. By fostering participatory disaster response through citizen science, it strengthens early warning systems and improves decision-making in flood-prone areas. 

Resources

Aishwarya Pillai

Lead Specialist

Alpana heads institutional partnerships, governance, and resource mobilization at CDRI, advancing cross-sector collaborations that drive resilient infrastructure programming across Member Countries and organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning international development, global health, and the non-profit sector, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and delivering strategic change. 

At CDRI, Alpana has been pivotal in forging strategic alliances with governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. She also plays a key role in fortifying institutional systems and board governance mechanisms as the Coalition transitions into an international organization. 

Before joining CDRI, Alpana held senior leadership roles at The George Institute for Global Health, Plan India, WaterAid India, and SOS Children’s Villages, leading institutional fundraising and cultivating strategic partnerships for social impact. 

She holds a Master’s in Finance & Control from Aligarh Muslim University and completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School (CSR India). Her work is driven by a commitment to building enduring, values-based partnerships that accelerate sustainable development outcomes. 

Alpana Saha

Director, Partnerships, Governance, and Resource Mobilisation 

Alpana heads institutional partnerships, governance, and resource mobilization at CDRI, advancing cross-sector collaborations that drive resilient infrastructure programming across Member Countries and organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning international development, global health, and the non-profit sector, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and delivering strategic change. 

At CDRI, Alpana has been pivotal in forging strategic alliances with governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. She also plays a key role in fortifying institutional systems and board governance mechanisms as the Coalition transitions into an international organization. 

Before joining CDRI, Alpana held senior leadership roles at The George Institute for Global Health, Plan India, WaterAid India, and SOS Children’s Villages, leading institutional fundraising and cultivating strategic partnerships for social impact. 

She holds a Master’s in Finance & Control from Aligarh Muslim University and completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School (CSR India). Her work is driven by a commitment to building enduring, values-based partnerships that accelerate sustainable development outcomes.