Services

FutureWater tackles the increasing complexities in water management by employing a variety of advanced methodologies, benefitting from strong connections with both academic and policy-making spheres. Our focus is on converting data into valuable information and knowledge, which is essential for effective policy development. In collaboration with academic partners, we constantly refine these methodologies to enhance policy formulation.

Our proactive research approach utilizes models to explore current and future challenges in water management, while also considering historical and present practices. This comprehensive perspective ensures informed and sustainable services for water management.


  • Hydrological Modelling

    SPHY is a spatial water balance model that integrates hydrological processes and is flexible in scale and time. We apply SPHY in various projects, such as understanding hydrological changes, watershed management, irrigation management, runoff forecasting, land degradation and restoration, energy assessment and hydroclimatic extremes research. The model can be adapted to different climatic conditions and uses different input data.


  • Satellite Remote Sensing

    We use satellite data to track various environmental variables such as vegetation, rainfall and land surface temperature. This data helps understand water resources, identify trends and support decision making. Satellite images are combined with models to gain insight into the past, present and future availability of water. We apply this approach in projects focused on drought, ecosystem services and sustainable land management.


  • Water Allocation and Planning

    We provide advice to water managers on different time scales, from day-to-day operational management to strategic decision making in river basins. We use models and tools such as WEAP and SPHY to simulate water supply and demand, and in this way we have built WEAP models for the Segura catchment area in Spain and investigated irrigation investments in Asia.


  • Climate Risk Assessments

    We play an important role in conducting Climate Risk Assessments (CRA) for potential investment projects. We are actively involved in developing and refining approaches to CRA in collaboration with reputable investors such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. In doing so, we focus on both top-down approaches, in which climate scenarios form the basis for impact assessments, and bottom-up approaches that focus on vulnerability.


  • Flying Sensors

    We provide farmers in developing countries with valuable information through affordable drones. These drones provide ultra-high resolution images that enable farmers to detect crop stress and make decisions about irrigation, fertilization and pesticides. This service currently operates in Kenya and Mozambique and uses local operators and agronomists.


  • Drought Early Warning

    FutureWater implements a multi-layer early warning system for drought that integrates satellite- and ground-based monitoring, hydrological and agro-climatic modelling, seasonal forecasting and risk assessment to deliver actionable insights for stakeholders from farmers to policymakers.


  • Crop Growth Models

    Crop growth models can be applied in different ways, depending on the underlying equations and the desired goal. We use models such as SWAP, SWAT and AquaCrop to predict crop development and growth. These models are enhanced by using satellite and drone data, resulting in more accurate assessments of crop development and water productivity.


  • Capacity Building

    We have extensive experience in training people and organizations. We combine scientific knowledge with consultancy work in the field of hydrology, climate change, satellite data and drones. Our tailor-made training courses are aimed at making complex scientific concepts understandable for various audiences, and we encourage the use of open source software and data.

Tools

At FutureWater, we develop cutting-edge tools that transform complex water management challenges into actionable insights. Our in-house tools integrate advanced modeling techniques, remote sensing data, and decision-support systems to provide practical solutions for sustainable water management. Designed for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners, these tools enable data-driven decision-making across various sectors, including agriculture, hydrology, and climate adaptation.

By continuously refining and expanding our toolset, we ensure that users can access the latest innovations in water management. Explore our suite of tools to see how FutureWater empowers decision-making through science-based, technology-driven solutions.

 


SPHY: Spatial Processes in HYdrology

Meet SPHY, our advanced hydrological model designed to simulate water availability, climate impacts, and land-use changes for sustainable water management. SPHY is a spatially distributed, process-based model that integrates key hydrological components such as rainfall-runoff, evapotranspiration, soil moisture dynamics, and cryospheric processes like snow and glacier melt.


InfoSequia: Drought Monitoring and Forecasting

InfoSequia is a powerful tool for proactive drought monitoring and forecasting. By integrating satellite data, machine learning, and real-time analytics, it delivers precise, impact-based insights to help decision-makers mitigate water scarcity and agricultural risks effectively.


GLOW: Global Water Availability Forecasting

GLOW is our advanced water forecasting tool that delivers real-time insights into water availability and demand. By integrating weather forecasts, hydrological models, and user-friendly visualization tools, GLOW empowers decision-makers to manage water resources effectively, mitigate risks, and enhance transboundary collaboration.


REWEFe: Rapid Evaluation of the Water-Energy-Food-ecosystem Nexus

REWEFe is a user-friendly, Excel-based tool that enables stakeholders to assess the interconnections between the Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystem sectors. By providing scenario analysis, decision support, and clear visual outputs, REWEFe helps users identify synergies and trade-offs, making it an accessible and effective tool for sustainable resource management worldwide.


Croptimal: Smart Irrigation and Crop Suitability Advice

Croptimal is a data-driven decision support tool that provides precise, field-level guidance on crop suitability and irrigation management. By combining satellite, weather, soil, and crop data, it delivers actionable insights to help farmers and decision makers optimize planting, improve water efficiency, and build climate-resilient farming systems.


Rapid Eye XS: Real Time In-field Advisory Drone Camera

The Rapid Eye XS is our self-made affordable, lightweight camera module that provides real-time NDVI maps for precision agriculture. By enabling instant crop health insights and on-the-spot advisory services, it helps farmers optimize water use, detect pests early, and improve yields sustainably.


Follow the Water: Partitioning Water Flows in Irrigation Schemes

Meet Follow the Water, a tool that visualizes water flows in irrigation systems to quantify reuse and improve system design. By using virtual tracers, it helps users understand consumed and return flows, supporting efficient water management and modernization efforts.


REWAS: Real Water Savings in Agricultural Systems

REWAS is our user-friendly Excel-based tool for assessing water use and productivity in irrigated agriculture. By integrating diverse data sources and scenario-based analysis, it helps decision-makers evaluate interventions, optimize water management, and improve agricultural efficiency.


WatNEX: Water Accounting Engine to Support NEXUS Analysis

WatNEX is a user-friendly FutureWater tool that analyses interactions between water, energy, food, and ecosystems using water accounting data. It extends WEAP with a dedicated plugin and delivers results through an Excel dashboard for scenario analysis and decision-making.

 

Datasets

At FutureWater, we develop and maintain high-quality geospatial datasets that support advanced water, climate, and environmental analyses. By combining state-of-the-art modelling, remote sensing, field observations, and data processing techniques, our datasets provide reliable and consistent information for applications ranging from hydrological modelling and agricultural water management to climate adaptation and ecosystem assessments.

Designed for researchers, consultants, governments, and decision-makers, our datasets offer a robust foundation for science-based analyses and operational applications. We continuously improve and expand our data products to ensure users have access to accurate, up-to-date information that enables better decisions for sustainable water management.

 


HiHydroSoil: High Resolution Maps of Global Soil Hydraulic Properties

HiHydroSoil is FutureWater’s global gridded dataset providing detailed soil hydraulic properties at 250 m resolution, enhancing hydrological and environmental modeling worldwide through freely available, high-quality soil data derived from SoilGrids and pedotransfer functions.