Finnish drone boat maps rivers to improve flood and natural hazard preparedness

A drone boat equipped with underwater laser scanning is being used to create precise 3D models of Finnish rivers, helping authorities better predict floods and other natural events, Yle reports.

The National Land Survey of Finland is conducting measurements in northern rivers such as Oulankajoki, Tenojoki, and Pulmankijoki, as well as the Vantaanjoki in southern Finland. The data, collected using a drone boat and portable laser backpacks, will enable more accurate flood forecasting—particularly critical as climate change increases flood risks in Finland and Arctic regions.

Research professor Harri Kaartinen of the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI) explained that the detailed 3D riverbed models help assess how floods and changing weather reshape water environments, posing risks to both nature and infrastructure. “For example, spring floods typically occur when snow melts rapidly or rain falls on still-frozen ground,” Kaartinen said.

The laser-equipped drone boat navigates rivers autonomously, while researchers use backpack-mounted laser scanners to survey areas inaccessible by air, such as beneath dense tree canopies. Measurements are taken before and after floods to track changes in riverbeds and ice formations, which can cause winter floods when ice dams form.

The research, part of the Academy of Finland’s Digital Waters (DIWA) flagship project, involves collaboration with the University of Turku, Aalto University, the Finnish Environment Institute, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, and the University of Oulu. The team is developing mobile and fixed autonomous systems to gather real-time data, even in remote northern areas.

This year’s smaller-than-usual floods, linked to low snowfall, may disrupt ecosystems dependent on meltwater, affecting groundwater, fish spawning, agriculture, and hydropower production.