Urgent need for technology adoption in monitoring and forecasting

On March 24 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment launched an event to mark World Meteorological Day under the theme "Closing the early warning gap together" for a comprehensive early warning system. The event was held in person in Hanoi and virtually with hydrometeorological stations across provinces, regions, and 210 relevant locations.

In his address, Nguyen Thuong Hien, director general of the Department of Hydrometeorology under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, stated, "World Meteorological Day 2025 calls for strengthening national capacities and bolster cooperation at all levels to ensure an effective early warning system from global to local scales, helping to close gaps in disaster forecasting and warnings."

He emphasized that in implementing Resolution No.57 on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, the hydrometeorological sector has gradually adopted artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and digital transformation in monitoring and forecasting. The sector has successfully carried out key projects to upgrade monitoring systems, modernize forecasting technology, and enhance personnel capacity. However, challenges remain, such as an inconsistent monitoring system, the need to improve forecasting capabilities, and a shortage of high-quality human resources.

Looking ahead, Hien urged the sector to continue innovating, ramping up cooperation, and increasing investment to improve services and ensure the protection of people and property. Priorities include effectively implementing Resolution No. 57, applying AI, big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to hydrometeorological operations, expanding a modern monitoring network, especially in remote, border, and island areas, and boosting international cooperation in data sharing.

Additionally, the sector will focus on improving forecasting capabilities for extreme weather events, developing a multi-hazard early warning system to provide timely and accurate information, and training a highly skilled workforce, particularly young professionals, to meet new requirements.

Efforts will also be made to raise public awareness of the role of hydrometeorology in disaster prevention, boost international collaboration, and leverage technical and technological support.

Modern forecasting and warning technologies will be developed to match those of countries with advanced meteorology, including high-resolution numerical models for typhoon, rainfall, and flood forecasting, as well as early warnings for flash floods and landslides.

Climate change impacts will also be integrated into forecasting methods, and cutting-edge forecasting technologies from other countries will be adopted and refined.

Moving forward, the Department of Hydrometeorology will continue working with local authorities and agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to accelerate the implementation of the Project on early warning of landslides, mudflows, flash floods in mid and mountainous areas of Vietnam and the Program on updating disaster risk zoning and hazard mapping.

The goal is to expand the national monitoring network so that by 2030, its density reaches the level of developed Asian countries, with an automation rate exceeding 95%.

Enhancing early warning systems for greater accuracy and broader impact

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), new technologies combined with vast hydrometeorological datasets are transforming early disaster warnings.

In recent years, AI and other technological advancements have delivered significant benefits, particularly in improving the accuracy of long-term forecasts and supporting climate adaptation planning.

In Vietnam, AI research is initially being applied to typhoon and rainfall forecasting, as well as rare extreme weather events. The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting (under the Department of Hydrometeorology, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) has started integrating AI into typhoon intensity forecasting models.

Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, said that the initial results of AI-enhanced models have been highly promising, offering greater accuracy than traditional methods. These models will be deployed for the 2025 typhoon season. The center is also testing AI applications for hydrological forecasting, flood predictions, and urban inundation assessments based on multiple input factors, including forecasts, real-time observations, natural conditions, and reservoir operations.

"The key challenge in applying AI to hydrometeorology lies in the demand for robust IT infrastructure, substantial financial resources, and highly skilled experts in both AI and meteorology. Currently, Vietnam has a limited number of AI professionals, especially those with expertise in meteorology. Attracting and retaining such talent is difficult due to salary constraints. Additionally, AI requires high-speed processing chips, which are costly. However, given the increasing severity of climate change, failing to invest in AI and technological advancements would mean falling behind. Thus, integrating AI into forecasting is essential," Khiem explained.

He further noted that with the rapid global development of AI, Vietnam can immediately access cutting-edge technologies. The country also has strong policy support from the Party and Government, particularly through Resolution No. 57, which aims to remove barriers and drive breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

"As climate change intensifies, extreme and unpredictable disasters are expected. Therefore, building and refining early warning systems is crucial to ensure their effectiveness from central to local levels. In early warnings, real-time information transmission must have minimal delay. Once observational data is collected, forecasting experts use various tools, models, and calculations to analyze and issue predictions. To maximize efficiency, observation stations within the monitoring network must operate in a synchronized and standardized manner," Khiem added.

As a member of the WMO, all national hydrometeorological agencies must adhere to mandatory observation regulations at specified times. With synchronized investment in monitoring networks, data can be transmitted within minutes to the WMO's global system for processing, which is then redistributed to all member countries. This mechanism allows meteorological agencies worldwide to access comprehensive datasets for improved forecasting and early warning capabilities.

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