Heatwave Resilience: Integrating Advanced Forecasting and Community Action in Karnataka

Raghuram Dharmaraju of the I-Hub for Robotics and Autonomous Systems Innovation Foundation in India will improve heatwave forecasting using AI approaches and develop an early warning system for the Indian state of Karnataka to enhance preparedness for heat-induced health risks. The improvements in forecasting will encompass increases in accuracy, lead time, and spatial resolution. The early warning system will use web-based dashboards, mobile apps, and social media platforms to communicate heatwave alerts in local languages. It will include messages tailored to particularly vulnerable groups as well as alerts to healthcare providers to actively monitor these groups. It will also send notifications to relevant government agencies about the potential severity of health impacts. This system will guide public health interventions while helping establish data collection mechanisms for ongoing improvement of the system.