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) evaluates the total impact of floods on cities, and (iv) supports queries at the nexus of water and energy, and beyond. 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:

1. 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?

2. 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 Proto-OKN (Open Knowledge Network) and Convergence Accelerator Programs that are
developing critical national data infrastructure as an open knowledge network. It enables rapid advancement in highly complex problems of critical societal importance.


This initiative is part of the “Ph.D. Lectures” activity of the project "Departments of Excellence 2023-2027" of the Department of Mathematics of Politecnico di Milano. This activity consists of seminars open to Ph.D. students, followed by meetings with the speaker to discuss and go into detail on the topics presented at the talk.


Contatto:
luca.formaggia@polimi.it