Remote sensing is a critical tool for data collection and observation of floods and surface water dynamics, especially in regions where field surveys and gauging stations are limited, such as remote or conflict ridden areas and data-poor developing nations. The integration of dynamic variables derived from remote sensing (e.g. water extent, depth and width, river slope and cross sections, flow velocities, land cover and land use) into hydraulic models offers the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of hydrological processes and improve predictive capabilities. Case studies from the Global South are strongly encouraged, as are contributions from ungauged and transboundary basins where satellite observations are the primary record.

This session invites cutting-edge presentations on advancing surface water and flood monitoring and mapping through remotely-sensed data, focusing on:
-Flood and surface water mapping from satellite and airborne sensors, including commercial constellations and emerging observation concepts
-Machine learning, deep learning and foundation models for water body detection and flood segmentation
-Flood mapping in challenging environments such as urban, vegetated, arid, and cloud-persistent regions
-Multi-sensor and multi-frequency fusion for consistent flood extent retrieval
-Flood hazard, risk and impact mapping from Earth observation
-Assimilation of satellite-derived flood extent and inundation maps into hydrological and hydraulic models
-Calibration and validation of hydrological and hydraulic models using remotely sensed observations and field measurements, as well as the creation and use of benchmarks, uncertainty quantification methods, and standards for this purpose
-Monitoring surface water dynamics and change such as seasonal water body variation, wetland extent, river planform
-Operational rapid mapping and emergency response, and the path from research product to sustained service or tool
-Multi-satellite data products and services for improved monitoring of surface water dynamics including floods

Early career and underrepresented scientists are particularly encouraged to participate.