Knowledge Networks help address urban flooding and water-energy challenges

Cities are highly interconnected networks of networks (referred to as the Urban Multiplex) that include the power grid and transportation networks, surface water and groundwater, sewerage and drinking water systems, inland navigation and dams – all intertwined with the natural environment and socioeconomic and public health sectors. While the Urban Multiplex is physically and functionally connected, the data produced within its individual sectors are not. This prevents us from fully understanding how the Urban Multiplex is connected, and how failures triggered by external stressors like floods cascade.  

Knowledge Networks are an AI technology that (i) integrates Urban Multiplex data, (ii) produces real-time flood forecasts across the continental U.S., (iii) serves as the foundation to evaluate the total impact of floods on cities, and (iv) supports queries at the nexus of water and energy. This talk will describe the development of the Urban Flooding and Water-Energy Nexus Open Knowledge Networks that aim to provide actionable answers to questions such as:

• Real-time flood mitigation and response: Will my neighborhood flood? Will I have access to water and power? Will this storm disrupt the power grid, drinking water treatment plant, or a bridge?

 

• Long-term design, planning and research: What is the total socioeconomic impact of this flood? Which critical urban infrastructure will likely fail in a future flood? Which failures will affect the most people or the most vulnerable people? Are there vulnerable communities downstream of this coal mine?

The interdisciplinary team behind this project has brought together academic researchers, industry, federal government, U.S. National labs and local stakeholders. It is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Convergence Accelerator Program that is structured to enable rapid advancement in highly complex problems of critical societal importance.