On 17 September in Toulouse, BWI celebrated the kick-off of REVALTO (formerly H2R) with CNES and partners. This France 2030 project aims to pioneer new approaches in satellite-based hydrology, laying the groundwork for future services to better anticipate floods, droughts, and water risks worldwide.
On 17 September, BWI gathered partners and colleagues in Toulouse, France for a warm evening event to celebrate a milestone: the kick-off of REVALTO, the new name of the project previously known as H2R, opening a new chapter in satellite hydrology.
Originally launched under the name H2R (High-Revisit Hydrology), the project now becomes REVALTO, which stands for REVisiting ALTimetry hydrOlogy. The mission was born from an ambitious contract awarded to BWI by the French Space Agency – CNES in 2025 as part of the national investment program France 2030.
The purpose of this contract is to provide innovative services in the field of hydrology. Using miniaturized radar altimeters, these services will provide accurate water level data every 48 hours from 10,000 measurement points worldwide.
By combining AI with unprecedented observation capacity, the project aims to significantly improve how societies manage freshwater resources and anticipate extreme events such as floods and droughts. This contract is part of the France 2030 program, overseen by the Directorate General for Enterprises (DGE), the Directorate for Research and Innovation (DGRI), and the France’s defence procurement agency (DGA), with the support of the General Secretariat for Investment (SGPI), operated by the CNES on behalf of the Ministry of Energy Transition (MTE).
> Read more : BWI wins the CNES call for projects “High-Revisit Observation of Continental Water Levels” as part of the France 2030 Plan
REVALTO reflects the ambition of French space hydrology stakeholders to complement existing systems and sensors as effectively as possible in terms of lake and river behavior.
The event in Toulouse brought together BWI, CNES, and industry partners such as Hemeria and Anywaves, who will contribute their expertise to the REVALTO mission. It was an opportunity not only to present the mission, but also the ecosystem that supports it. The atmosphere was both friendly and collaborative, reflecting the strong spirit of partnership that has developed around REVALTO.
The gathering was more than just a celebration – it was a moment to share perspectives, strengthen partnerships, and to align on a common goal: to leverage French expertise in satellite hydrology.
For BWI, REVALTO embodies the company’s mission at its best: digitizing rivers to empower resilience. By making water data more accurate, more timely, and more widely accessible, we aim to help governments, industries, and communities adapt to the intensifying challenges of climate change.
