The project which is turning mobile signals into flood intelligence

What if the mobile phone signals we use every day could also help predict the next flood?

Dr Kai Wu from the University of Technology Sydney is leading an innovative project that is rethinking how extreme weather is monitored across Australia.

Developed through the Connectivity Innovation Network’s Sensing for Disasters program, delivered in partnership with the NSW Smart Sensing Network, the research transforms ordinary mobile signals into real-time rainfall intelligence.

The idea is both simple and powerful. Instead of relying solely on traditional rain gauges, often expensive to install, difficult to maintain, and scarce in regional and remote areas—this approach uses existing wireless infrastructure to measure rainfall intensity.

By making everyday communications networks work harder, the system can deliver faster data across much wider areas.

The project was sparked by real-world challenges raised at the Regional Connectivity Symposium in Lismore in 2023, where communities highlighted the need for more resilient and accessible rainfall monitoring.

The result is a wireless sensing solution that offers broader coverage, improved reliability, and critical insights when communities need them most.