Early warning system for climate hazards in Saarland
KliGAS – the Climate Hazard Defense System – provides early warnings of floods and heavy rainfall and will be gradually extended to further climate hazards.
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KliGAS is an early warning system for municipalities and operators of critical infrastructure in Saarland – initiated by the KoK² competence center at htw saar together with the districts of St. Wendel and Neunkirchen, the Saarpfalz district and the Saarland Ministry of the Environment after the Pentecost flood of 2024.
Why an early warning system?
Climate change is causing ever more frequent extreme weather events. The heavy rainfall disaster of July 2021 in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate and the Pentecost flood of 2024 in Saarland have shown: even when the German Weather Service (DWD) forecasts high amounts of precipitation, the actual impacts on the ground – flood depths and flow velocities – often remain unknown.
KliGAS closes this gap: the system transforms precipitation forecasts into concrete flood forecasts and thus enables early warnings – the basis for property protection measures, road closures or evacuations.
Why KliGAS
A system that effectively protects regions and infrastructure from climate hazards.
Early warning
Precipitation forecasts become concrete flood forecasts – this buys time for property protection, road closures and timely evacuations.
Across district borders
The lead project KliGAS Blies connects St. Wendel, Neunkirchen and the Saarpfalz district along the Blies river into one shared early warning system.
Scientifically sound
KoK² at htw saar is testing novel approaches to flood forecasting, including with the help of artificial intelligence.
Extensible
After floods and heavy rainfall, KliGAS is to be gradually extended to heat, drought, fires and storms.
How it works
From data collection to targeted warnings.
Data collection
Water levels, precipitation and wind data as well as current weather models are recorded around the clock.
Analysis & forecast
Computational models evaluate the data automatically and detect hazardous situations early.
Warning & alerting
Politicians, municipalities, civil protection and fire brigades receive a reliable basis for decisions before and during disaster situations.
The KliGAS project areas
From the lead research project to municipal application.
R&D KliGAS Blies
The research and development lead project for the Blies valley, funded by the Ministry for the Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and Consumer Protection.
Learn more →AK KliGAS
The inter-institutional working group connects municipalities, districts, civil protection and other partners across Saarland.
Learn more →KliGAS Infra
Together with energis-Netzgesellschaft, flood risks for critical supply infrastructure are being determined.
Learn more →KliGAS Municipal
Standalone municipal early warning systems, currently in operation in Eppelborn, Rehlingen-Siersburg, Wadgassen and Saarlouis, among others.
Learn more →Contact/Inquiry
Would you like to learn more about the project or get involved as a municipality or company? Get in touch.
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
What is KliGAS?
KliGAS stands for KlimaGefahrenAbwehrSystem (Climate Hazard Defense System). It was initiated by the Competence Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Protection (KoK²) at htw saar after the Pentecost flood of 2024 and provides early warnings of floods and heavy rainfall.
Which hazards are covered?
The initial focus is on floods and heavy rainfall. In the future, KliGAS is to be extended to heat, drought, fires and storms.
Who is involved in the project?
The lead project is KliGAS Blies with the districts of St. Wendel, Neunkirchen and the Saarpfalz district, funded by the Ministry for the Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. In addition there are municipal projects as well as projects with operators of critical infrastructure such as energis-Netzgesellschaft.
How does the warning work?
Water level, precipitation and wind data are evaluated automatically in computational models. When a hazard is detected, warning messages are sent to politicians, municipalities, civil protection and fire brigades.
What is the current status?
Stage 1 of the lead project KliGAS Blies is complete: an early warning system based on the Delft-FEWS software is in live operation and is already being used by the civil protection authorities of the participating districts.
Become part of KliGAS
Is your municipality, company or institution interested in KliGAS? Get in touch with us.
Get in touch