Early warning and forecasting is a prerequisite for efficient emergency response and contingency action planning. Early warning makes the difference between life and death. The latter has been clearly demonstrated during floods worldwide every year, causing both loss of life and damage to property.

Early warning is important in relation to water quality in general and the supply of safe drinking water in particular. By providing sufficient advance notice in a clear and informative manner to the authorities and the public, a potential disaster can be considerably mitigated.

DHI provides consulting services and software tools for the smooth integration of real-time data and forecast modelling tools in a resilient and robust GIS environment. The systems are tailored for use during emergency situations, when decision-makers need to establish an effective overview of the situation and obtain answers to their questions within a short time span. The DHI real-time flood forecasting technology has been integrated into local and national emergency planning systems in more than 20 countries throughout the world.

Other benefits provided by these technologies include the capability to track pollutant sources and plan and optimize industrial water intake based on forecasted water demands. The former is highly relevant in relation to the "polluter pays" principle adopted worldwide.