This highly anticipated webinar explored how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform the way we monitor, predict, and respond to severe weather events.
Local authority leaders and climate adaptation experts came together to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) could transform the way we monitor, predict, and respond to severe weather events.
Delivered by LCRIG, in collaboration with Colas, sponsor of the AI Mini-Guide on Severe Weather – this insightful session took place on:
Date: Tuesday, 2nd December
Time: 11:00AM
Meet Our Speakers
Carol Valentine – Highways Drainage Manager, Kent County Council
Carol is an experienced local government manager working for Kent County Council. Currently Highways Drainage Manager, Carol brings extensive experience in managing drainage and winter maintenance challenges across local highway networks. She has also been involved in introducing new technology across Kent highways.
Ricky Beecroft, Programme and Project Manager, Colas
Ricky leads the Wessex Live Lab, driving innovation in local roads, and is spearheading an AI pilot within Colas’ UK business to introduce Copilot Pro. This work is blending digital transformation with practical delivery to shape smarter, more sustainable infrastructure solutions.
Rauno Kuusela, Senior R&D Project Engineer, Destia
Rauno specialises in winter maintenance methods, equipment and road weather information systems. His work includes developing Road Weather Cameras and AI-systems for better road status information management.
Dr Avinoam Baruch, Co-Founder, Previsico
Avi co-founded Previsico, a global provider of real-time, property level flood forecasting and monitoring solutions. In 2018, Avi completed his PhD at Loughborough and together with his supervisor Prof. Dapeng Yu, launched Previsico as a spin-out company to transform an innovative flood forecasting system into a global solution to reduce the cost of flooding.
Session Chair: Paul Hutton, Owner, Highways News
Paul is one of the world’s leading journalists specialising in transport technology. A trained broadcast journalist, he has worked as a presenter, newsreader, and sports reporter across local and national radio and TV.
Key Discussion Topics
Our expert panel discussed:
- Impact of severe weather on local roads – A local authority perspective
- Opportunities and benefits for AI in severe weather
- Challenges to adoption
- Where AI is already being adopted:
– Automated detection and alert systems
– Predictive models for flood forecasting, monitoring and risk mitigation