Multiverse Computing, Moody’s Analytics, and Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) have secured funding from Innovate UK to develop large-scale flood prediction models using quantum methods. The project, overseen by the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, aims to improve the country’s response to extreme weather events linked to climate change. Multiverse will provide the software and technical formulation, OQC will supply the quantum hardware, and Moody’s will contribute industry expertise and data insights. The project marks the first time Multiverse has applied quantum algorithms to assess potential flood damage.
Quantum Computing to Address Climate Change Risks
Quantum computing company Multiverse Computing, risk management firm Moody’s Analytics, and Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) have secured funding from Innovate UK to develop large-scale flood prediction models using quantum methods. The project aims to overcome the limitations of traditional modelling methods. The UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will oversee the project and will be the first to utilise this new solution in computational fluid dynamics. This initiative is part of the UK government’s efforts to better adapt to extreme weather events linked to climate change.
The project, titled “Quantum-Assisted Flood Modelling: Pioneering Large-Scale Analysis for Enhanced Risk Assessment,” will use quantum computing to address computational challenges in large-scale flood modelling studies. The goal is to make flood risk assessment and management more accurate and efficient. Multiverse Computing will provide the technical formulation of the problem and algorithm development, OQC will supply the quantum hardware and ancillary resources, and Moody’s Analytics will contribute industry expertise, data requirements, and insights on computational efficiency.
This is the first time Multiverse Computing plans to apply quantum algorithms to assess potential flood damage. The improvements to accuracy and effectiveness gained by the quantum approach to computational fluid dynamics problems could contribute to climate change adaptation efforts, according to Enrique Lizaso Olmos, founder and CEO of Multiverse Computing.
Quantum Computing and Flood Modelling
Flood modelling involves running two-dimensional hydrodynamical models that numerically solve Shallow Water Equations (SWE), which describe the flow of water in scenarios such as dam breaks, storm surges, or river flood waves. The computational cost of running simulations with sophisticated models over large areas and high-resolution is a limiting factor for current methods. To counteract these limitations, parallel computing and GPU-based computing have been employed to expedite the simulation process.
The advent of new technologies, such as quantum computing, offers an exciting avenue for advancement. Specifically, there is promising potential in the application of quantum machine learning (QML) to develop emulators as alternatives to traditional physics-based models, according to Sergio Gago, Moody’s Managing Director of Quantum and GenAI.
The Impact of Climate Change on Flood Risks
Moody’s RMS estimates that regardless of society’s capacity to decrease carbon emissions, by 2050 average cost of flood risk in the UK will increase by at least 20%, with some strong variability by region, season and future emission scenario. RMS flood models estimate there are greater than £700 million ($850M USD) in losses each year in the country due to inland flooding, with large year-over-year volatility. The flood risk modelling work funded by Innovate UK could help to further improve our understanding of flood risk landscape across geographies and time of the year.
Quantum Physics-Informed Neural Network (QPINN) Algorithm
The project team will use a Quantum Physics-Informed Neural Network (QPINN) algorithm to improve these risk assessment methods. The algorithm combines classical data processing with quantum processing using a Variational Quantum Circuit (VQC). The data is encoded into the quantum gate parameters of the VQC, and as the algorithm progresses, these parameters are adjusted to improve the accuracy of target function predictions.
Phase 1 of the project lasts three months and ends Nov. 30, 2023. The second phase of the project will last up to 15 months and starts in January 2024. Approval for Phase 2 is based on a successful completion of Phase 1.
Innovate UK and Quantum Technology Adoption
This Small Business Research Initiative competition is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Innovate UK (IUK). The aim of this competition is to explore the benefit of using quantum technologies in various areas of interest for the UK Government, accelerating the adoption of quantum solutions by the public sector and for the public benefit. Thirty projects were awarded funding in Phase 1.
Part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) government organisation, Innovate UK supports business-led innovation in all sectors, technologies and regions of the country to help develop and commercialise new products, processes and services that enhance business growth.
“We recognise the urgency of addressing escalating flood risks… together we are redefining the future of flood management and helping to create a safer, more resilient world for future generations.” — Ilana Wisby, OQC CEO
“Understanding the changes in flood risk will help everyone prepare for extreme weather events, from government agencies working to mitigate those risks to homeowners trying to protect their homes and properties, as well as insurance agencies quantifying these new risks,” said Enrique Lizaso Olmos, founder and CEO of Multiverse Computing.
“The advent of new technologies, such as quantum computing, offers an exciting avenue for advancement,” said Sergio Gago, Moody’s Managing Director of Quantum and GenAI. “Specifically, there is promising potential in the application of quantum machine learning (QML) to develop emulators as alternatives to traditional physics-based models.”
“We recognise the urgency of addressing escalating flood risks which is why this project is so important to us,” says Dr. Ilana Wisby, OQC CEO. “By harnessing the power of OQC’s quantum computing, we’re not only breaking free from the constraints of classical computing, together we are redefining the future of flood management and helping to create a safer, more resilient world for future generations.”
Summary
“Multiverse Computing, Moody’s Analytics and Oxford Quantum Circuits have secured funding from Innovate UK to develop large-scale flood prediction models using quantum methods, aiming to improve the UK’s response to extreme weather events linked to climate change. The project, overseen by the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will utilise quantum computing to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of flood risk assessment and management.”
- Multiverse Computing, Moody’s Analytics, and Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) have secured funding from Innovate UK to develop large-scale flood prediction models using quantum methods.
- The project aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of flood risk assessment and management, addressing limitations of traditional modelling methods.
- The UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be the first to use this new solution in computational fluid dynamics, to better adapt to extreme weather events linked to climate change.
- The project, titled “Quantum-Assisted Flood Modeling: Pioneering Large-Scale Analysis for Enhanced Risk Assessment,” will use quantum computing to tackle computational challenges in large-scale flood modelling studies.
- Multiverse Computing will lead the project and provide software, OQC will supply the quantum hardware, and Moody’s Analytics will contribute industry expertise and insights on computational efficiency.
- The project team will use a Quantum Physics-Informed Neural Network (QPINN) algorithm to improve risk assessment methods.
- The project is part of a competition funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Innovate UK (IUK), aimed at exploring the benefits of using quantum technologies in areas of interest for the UK Government.
- The first phase of the project will end in November 2023, with the second phase starting in January 2024.