Durham, NC — July 1, 2025 — As climate change increases the risk of extreme weather, a team of Data+ students at Duke University is working to help communities along the Milwaukee River better understand and prepare for flooding.
Through Duke’s Climate+ summer research program, undergraduate students Dave Zheng, Keyan Miao, and graduate student Will Lin are developing tools that use data and computer modeling to predict flood risks in the region. Their project, “Automated Flood Modeling and Risk Assessment for Milwaukee River Communities,” aims to make flood risk information more accurate, accessible, and useful for local decision-makers and residents.
“From my point of view, this is an important step in improving decision-making for communities at risk of flooding, especially as they navigate the inherent uncertainty in the data or, in some cases, the complete absence of it,” says project manager Hector Monterroso (PhD candidate in Civil Engineering).
The team is using existing environmental data and advanced techniques like Monte Carlo simulations to model a wide range of possible flood scenarios. They’re also creating easy-to-understand maps and visualizations to help communities see where the greatest risks lie—and how those risks might change in the future.
“This project is about turning complex data into something people can actually use,” said Dr. Lydia Olander, Program Director at Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability and one of the project leads. “We want to support local efforts to build resilience and protect people and property.”
Project lead and James L. and Elizabeth M. Vincent Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Mark Borsuk added, “Data+ gives us the opportunity to pilot test research ideas in an accelerated fashion, with a small team of skilled and motivated students. We hope to build on this specific project by generalizing the approach for application to other hazards, regions, and communities.”
The project is a collaboration between Duke’s Nicholas Institute, the Pratt School of Engineering, and the Rhodes Information Initiative at Duke (iiD). It’s part of Duke’s broader Climate Commitment, which supports research and education that address the urgent challenges of climate change.
Learn more about this project and others at our +Programs Poster Session on July 25th from 2-3:00 p.m. at the Gross Hall Energy Hub at Duke University! For a parking pass, please email ariel.dawn@duke.edu.
For more information, visit bigdata.duke.edu.
Media Contact:
Ariel Dawn
Rhodes iiD Communications Specialist
ariel.dawn@duke.edu
919-684-9312
